LABOUR has pulled the plug on the political careers of some of its longest-standing frontline figures as it bids to retain power in a former stronghold.

Jim Brooks, who led Monklands Council at the time of its 1990s cronyism scandal, is the highest-profile casualty of those who have not been selected as a candidate for next year’s local government elections.

A councillor since 1974, Mr Brooks has been a kingpin in North Lanarkshire since it was formed.

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Mr Brooks is one of eight sitting members who were due to be informed at the weekend that they had been de-selected.

Jim McCabe, who led the council for almost two decades until standing down in February, had previously decided to quit politics.

His former chief whip, Tommy Curley is standing down.

The others de-selected include Cumbernauld’s Bob Chadha, John Higgins who represents Coatbridge, Wishaw’s Frank McKay, Peter Sullivan of Airdrie and John McLaren of Strathkelvin.

A senior source said the decisions were taken by a local forum of officials and factored in local ward work, adding most of those axed were “malcontents” and “lieutenants” of Mr McCabe during his time as leader.

But Mr Brooks said the decision had the “grubby hands” of council leader Jim Logue “all over the decision”, and that he had not yet been informed of the decision.

It will almost certainly intensify the deep political and factional divisions within North Lanarkshire.

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Earlier this year, four other Labour councillors in North Lanarkshire, including ex-deputy leader Jim Smith, left the party after being demoted by Mr Logue after he took the reins in March.

The move comes amid more turbulence at the authority. Both Mr Logue and his deputy Paul Kelly have faced calls to quit in recent days over the alleged cover-up of a child pornography charge against fellow Labour councillor David Fagan on the eve of a by-election.

The no confidence motion is being promoted by former colleagues Sam Love, one of those who quit in March. Mr Kelly has described the move as “pathetic” and “disgraceful”.

And earlier this month three officials were suspended as part of a corruption probe instigated after Mr Logue received a whistleblowing letter detailing a string of allegations.

The letter named also McCabe, the 75-year-old telling The Herald: “Under no circumstances am I corrupt and I have never been corrupt. No way.”

A senior source said: “You’re talking people who’ve treaded water for too long and when they do have an input its to agitate against the leadership. We won an important by-election last month, the SNP are all over the place in Lanarkshire and we have a chance of winning. That’s only if we’re all pulling in the same direction.”

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Another source said: “This will make things fraught internally but it was always going to be anyway. It probably does Logue, Kelly and Labour in the area more good than harm if they’ve any chance of holding on to flush this out now.”

But Mr Brooks said: “This is like the old German show trials. It has Logue’s grubby hands all over it. He’s Airdrie and there’s always that enmity with Coatbridge. He’s ready made a statement that ‘yesterday’s men are finished. But I need to find out what’s going on.”

A spokesman for Labour’s local campaign forum in North Lanarkshire said: “Whilst some will of course be disappointed not to have made it through the initial selection panel of local party members, being a councillor is a privilege and not a right.

“All unsuccessful candidates will be given the chance to appeal the decision.”