ANOTHER member of Newport’s Labour group has been suspended.

Beechwood ward member Cllr Paul Hannon announced at a meeting of Newport City Council yesterday, Tuesday, evening he had been suspended from the Labour group.

He is the second member to be suspended from the group this year – in February Rogerstone ward member Cllr Chris Evans was also handed a six-month suspension.

Speaking after the meeting Cllr Hannon said he had not been told the formal reasons for his suspension.

"I’m quite happy,” he said. “I’m not bothered.

“It just seems to me a little bit silly that my erstwhile comrades should do this to days before an election.”

He said he believed the group had been attempting to suspend him for some time, beginning when he was removed as chairman of the council’s Planning Committee last year while he was in hospital for heart surgery.

“They tried to get Welsh Labour to suspend me, but they decided I was more sinned against than sinning,” he said.

“They didn’t like the idea of a Labour group which suspended people while they were in hospital.

“I suspect its part of ensuring whoever succeeds Bob Bright doesn’t criticise him.”

Council leader Cllr Bright announced last month he would step down from the role at the end of this month.

Cllr Evans, who left the Labour Party following his suspension and later joined the newly-formed Independent group on the council, said: “He’s one of the more capable members.

“He speaks up for people.

“The truth is Paul Hannon won Beechwood for Labour from the Lib Dems.

“I don’t know what they’re playing at.”

A statement issued by the Newport Labour Group today, Wednesday, said: "The Labour Party whip was removed from Cllr Paul Hannon as a result of his failure to pay group subs in accordance with Labour Party rules.

"The rules state as follows:“Members of the Labour group who fail to maintain payments …  according to the rules of the Party and standing orders of the group shall have the whip automatically withdrawn…” (Labour Party Rulebook Chapter 13, Clause III, paragraph 4).

"Regrettably Cllr Hannon is in breach of this rule and it is an automatic consequence for the whip to be withdrawn pending payment.

"He remains a member of the Labour Party."