ONE of York’s political chiefs has been ousted in a coup by his own party.

Coun David Scott was dropped as leader of City of York Council’s Labour group at a meeting this week, bringing his three-year stint in the role to an end.

He is to be replaced by Holgate councillor James Alexander, who is standing as the party’s candidate for the crucial York Outer seat in today’s General Election.

The group’s annual general meeting, held only 36 hours before York went to the polls, saw Clifton councillor Coun Scott’s political colleagues vote him out as leader, a position he took up in May 2007 following Coun Dave Merrett’s decision to stand down after the city’s local elections.

Coun Alexander said: “I am not currently in a position to talk about internal Labour Party matters.

“I am more concerned with the Government we will have after the General Election. York Outer is the fifth most marginal three-way seat in the country and many people are undecided.

“There is all to play for and I am fighting hard and fighting to win.”

He is today contesting York Outer against Julian Sturdy (Conservative), Madeleine Kirk (Liberal Democrats), Judith Morris (UKIP) and Cathy Smurthwaite (BNP).

Coun Scott, 42, was first elected in Clifton in 2003 and became leader in 2007, but sparked some dissension within his own party after choosing not to enter into a coalition with the Liberal Democrats when they took control of the council.

He played a pivotal role in securing lower parking charges for York residents, but he was also in charge of the group when it failed in an attempt to seize power from the Lib Dems in May 2008.

Neither Coun Scott nor any of York’s Labour councillors wished to comment yesterday on the group’s change of leadership.