A LABOUR county councillor who has been suspended from the party claims he has not been told the reasons for the decision.

Cllr Alf Mersh, who represents the Gravesham South division on KCC, has been indefinitely suspended from the 22-strong Labour group at County Hall.

Cllr Mersh, 68, who is also a Gravesham borough councillor, says he is mystified why action was taken against him. “All I can say is that I am in limbo. I do not actually know what I have been suspended for. I was told verbally and that is as far as it has got.

"I am getting very frustrated. I want to appeal but I do not know what to appeal against,” said Cllr Mersh, who was elected to the county council in 2001.

It is understood that Cllr Mersh, who has been a Labour party member for 23 years, is facing complaints about his behaviour and personal relations with some members of the Labour group and its officers.

Opposition Labour group leader Cllr Mike Eddy said: “There is a formal process which we are going through and it would not be appropriate to say anything more. The first part of that process has been completed.”

The Kent County Labour party is due to hold a further hearing into the complaints against Cllr Mersh at a meeting in December.

Cllr Mersh said he had no intention of leaving the party or standing as an independent. He also indicated that his position as a member of the Labour group on Gravesham Council was unaffected.