Labour has just suspended two of its councillors in Medway – though not for the reason everyone might think. Councillor Satinder Shokar spent last week urging the three Medway MPs to support the SNP’s motion for a ceasefire in Gaza – as opposed to his own party’s. The reason for his suspension is a bit punchier…

It turns out Shokar and fellow Labour councillor Stephen Hubbard were involved in a fight at a Christmas party – the investigation having been launched, they find themselves independents. Labour got control of the council in May last year with a majority of eleven. That’s now down, with rumours that more suspensions are on the way…