The deputy mayor of Brent has been suspended by Labour pending an investigation, with the party refusing to say why.
Councillor Kathleen Fraser is the second consecutive deputy mayor in the borough to face an investigation after her predecessor was caught on camera shouting at a parking attendant.
The councillor was only appointed to the role last month but has already been suspended following a complaint made against her.
On Friday, Brent Council changed Councillor Fraser's party delegation on its website from Labour to Independent. She will still be able to serve as a councillor even if she is eventually kicked out of the Labour Party.
In a leaked internal party email seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), members of the group were informed that Councillor Fraser had been "administratively suspended" whilst a confidential investigation takes place.
She has also been removed from committees and her nomination as deputy mayor "has been withdrawn". Councillor Fraser was approached for comment but did not respond ahead of publication.
A Labour Group spokesperson told the LDRS: "Following a complaint, Councillor Kathleen Fraser has been suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation.
"We cannot provide comment on the confidential complaints process, and it is important that this independent investigation is allowed to proceed without fear of prejudicing the outcome."
It comes at the same time that Councillor Fraser's predecessor, Councillor Diana Collymore, is being readmitted to the Labour Group following an investigation that began last year when she was caught on camera making an "unreasonable and excessive personal verbal attack" on a parking warden.
In another internal email leaked to the LDRS, group members were advised that the complaints procedure had concluded and members should "welcome [Councillor Collymore] back accordingly". The investigation concluded with the NEC Panel "issuing a formal warning" in relation to her conduct, which was described as "contrary to the Labour Party rulebook".
The Labour Group were approached for comment but said that it "[does] not provide comment on internal processes".
A previous investigation by Brent Council's Audit and Standards Advisory Committee found that Councillor Collymore's behaviour "could reasonably be regarded as bringing her office into disrepute". She had threatened to report the warden to officials after receiving a ticket for parking on a yellow line.
Following the council investigation, Councillor Collymore resigned from the position of deputy mayor for "unequivocally and deliberately offensive, disparaging and discriminatory" behaviour towards the parking warden.
In the email advising of her readmittance, Labour Group members were reminded of the "importance of behaving in accordance with the expectations of public office", as well as with both the council's and Labour Party's code of conduct.
