THE REBEL Labour group launched their administration by calling on national party leaders to come in and resolve the bitter tension within Harrow Council's politics.
Following the nine councillors defecting from Labour Group to form Independent Labour Group, the newly-appointed Mayor of Harrow and member of the breakaway group Councillor Nana Asante said that there was a clear problem with racism within the Labour Group.
This allegation was based on the prospective David Perry cabinet, 10 people were elected with only two females, and two non-white members, which acted as the catalyst for the breakaway.
She said: "There is a problem of institutional racism. We have had to put up with it for three years but now we are taking a stand."
Whilst members of the Independent Labour Group maintain that they are still loyal to the Labour Party, they have all been written to explaining that their defection is in contradiction with the party rules.
Ms Asante added: "An investigation by the London Labour Party would not suffice, they have been quite partisan during this.
"We want someone from the national party like Tom Watson or Harriet Harman to come and investigate this."
A Harrow Labour Group statement robustly denied any racist practice.
They said: "The Labour Group categorically deny and would challenge the negative unfounded accusations of discrimination made against our decisions and processes, and our proven record in this area supports this."
