A council is in danger of disarray after the resignation of a Labour councillor amid claims of infighting. Charlie �McCallum has resigned from Inverclyde�s Labour group to become an independent.

A council is in danger of disarray after the resignation of a Labour councillor amid claims of infighting.

Charlie McCallum has resigned from Inverclyde's Labour group to become an independent after accusing the leader of Inverclyde Council, Stephen McCabe, of running a "dictatorship".

Mr McCabe in return has accused his colleague of leaving Labour because he had not been given convenership of a major committee and as a result was missing out on a special responsibility allowance.

However, Mr McCallum, who represents Inverclyde North, said he never asked for extra payments from the council.

"This has nothing to do with money," he said. "I would lose part of my pension if I got more money."

He said the main reason he had left was because he felt he wasn't getting a say under Mr McCabe's leadership style.

Mr McCabe refuted the criticisms, saying his leadership was "inclusive" and that he had the support of the council and the Labour Party.

Mr McCallum's decision means Labour has eight councillors out of Inverclyde's 20. It has had an alliance with sole Conservative David Wilson and independent Ronnie Ahlfeld.

If that continues, the ruling administration will have 10 votes plus the provost's casting vote.