ELECTIONS to choose a leader for the Labour group on Stoke-on-Trent City Council have been cancelled in the wake of elected mayor Mark Meredith's arrest.

The 16-strong group of councillors had been due to hold its AGM on Monday night.

The top item on the agenda was a leadership election which could have led to the replacement of the current leader, councillor Joy Garner.

Rumours had been circulating that at least one member would have stood against her.

Under party regulations, the winner would then have been clear to stand for election as overall council leader in June.

But Labour party members were told by email this week that the AGM had been postponed on the orders of the party's National Executive Committee (NEC).

A local party member, who did not wish to be named, said: "There was supposed to be a pre-AGM meeting this week to see who would be standing for election and to let the candidates have their say. But we have now been told that this meeting has been postponed and that the AGM on Monday will not go ahead either.

"It's not clear how long they have put it off for or why, but it doesn't look very good when the council leadership election is coming up in June."

Following Mr Meredith's arrest on Friday on suspicion of misconduct in public office and complicity in corruption in public office and his temporary suspension from the Labour Party, Labour group members have been barred from speaking openly about the situation at the council.

It is thought the NEC may be carrying out a damage limit-ation exercise to provide as much stability as possible for Labour deputy elected mayor, councillor Mohammed Pervez.

He has now stepped into Mr Meredith's executive role, chairing the decision-making executive and members' board and working with interim chief executive Chris Harman to run the authority while the police investigation continues.

A regional Labour Party spokesman said the postponement of the group AGM was recommended by the NEC following a meeting on Tuesday.

He said: "The Labour Party NEC has agreed to defer the AGM of the Stoke Labour group so that the present Labour group leadership can provide continuity and stability during the current time. The NEC will, at a later date, decide when the AGM should take place."

Potteries Alliance leader councillor Peter Kent-Baguley, pictured, said he expected the Labour group to hold the AGM nearer to the annual council meeting in June.

He said: "Nominations for the council leadership don't have to be in until seven days before the annual council meeting, so Labour probably feel they have got plenty of time to hold their group leader elections.

"I think it shows there is serious disquiet among the Labour group at the moment. But it also demonstrates the extent to which they are being controlled by national Labour headquarters."