London Labour councillors have accused their own party of a "stitch-up" after they were forced to re-run the election of a new borough leader when a left-wing candidate was chosen.
Three Labour councillors in Southwark have threatened to quit over the row and have suggested they will refuse to work for Sarah King, who was announced as the new leader of town hall on Wednesday night.
Last week James McAsh was narrowly selected for the position, but the London Labour Party ordered that the result be quashed due to breaches of party rules.
It followed reports that some councillors had voted by proxy. Neil Coyle, the Labour MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, raised concerns over the process as the contest had been so tight.
It resulted in the regional party ordering a new ballot be held online rather than in person. Ms King won the second election to become leader of Southwark Labour and the council.
Councillor Sam Foster confirmed that he, along with councillors Ketzia Harper and Laura Johnson, had voted against Ms King becoming leader.
In a statement they branded her election a "stitch up" and added: "Last week Labour overturned the result of a fair and transparent election on a slim technical pretence....We cannot serve our residents honestly under this imposed leadership, without at least a modicum of trust in this organisation."
Sources suggested to the Standard that some in London Labour saw Mr McAsh as "too left wing" to lead the borough.
Ms King won the second leadership election with 27 votes to 25, overturning Mr McAsh's initial victory.
She replaces former Southwark leader Kieron Williams, who stepped down after five years in June.
Mr Foster said: "I do not believe that it is fair that any of us should be placed in a position of having to choose between the work we do with our colleagues and the trust that we have within our organisation to let us do our jobs properly."
Leader of the Southwark Liberal Democrats, Victor Chamberlain, congratulated Ms King on her election, acknowledging that she is the first woman leader of the council in 23 years.
But he added: "It's also remarkable and quite frankly embarrassing that councillor King is the third Labour leader in a week, that this administration has held two leadership elections in seven days."
Ms King told the meeting she would “earn" the trust of residents, adding: “Residents should feel this council is on their side. We need to be clearer, more responsive.”
London Labour has been contacted for comment.
