Six Labour councillors have been sacked from their party jobs after they refused to toe the line in a council vote, the Oxford Mail can reveal.

Fellow party members on the city council were furious when the rebels refused to back plans to refurbish run-down flats in Horspath Road, Cowley.

Now, in a move attacked as a "kick in the teeth for democracy", the six have been put on probation, stripped of their posts and ordered to obey the party whip. They could be barred from standing in future council elections if they do not co-operate.

A behind-closed-doors Labour meeting decided to discipline the six, who include chairman of the Labour group Adam Sandell, representing Central ward, and press officer Bob Hoyle, of the Temple Cowley ward that encompasses the maisonettes.

The other four are deputy press officer Rhonda Riachi (St Clements), deputy whip Roberta Woods (Headington Quarry), Les Town (Headington) and Patricia Pike (Headington). Cllr Hoyle, a former chairman Labour rebels under attack of public affairs, voted against the £430,000 refurbishment last month. The other five abstained from the vote, which Labour won 24-21.

Cllr Hoyle later wrote to the Oxford Mail praising opposition councillors and calling the decision "Old Labour at its worst".

One of the disciplined councillors, who did not wish to be named, said: "I am not bothered at all about being threatened by my colleagues but I do care very much about sorting out the problem of those maisonettes."

David Connet, Liberal Democrat housing spokesman, said: "This is a kick in the teeth for local democracy. These councillors are trying to do their best on this particular issue and the Labour group is not interested in what they believe or the concerns of local people." The maisonettes, made up of 22 three-bedroom council flats, have been plagued by graffiti and vandalism. Residents called them a "ghetto" and demanded they be replaced by new housing. But the council insists they can be refurbished. The two other Labour councillors for Temple Cowley, Robert Evans and Stan Taylor, also voted for demolition - but escaped a reprimand because they fell in line with the party decision.

Council leader John Tanner said: "If a councillor persistently opposes the Labour group on an issue, the group will take a dim view of it.

"But in this case it was not taken badly. It was a very positive group meeting."

Rebel councillor Mr Sandell said: "In my view the decision has been taken and I have lost the argument. It has all been fairly affable."

And Mrs Pike said: "It was absolutely routine. They asked why I had done it and I just said I felt a mistaken decision had been taken."

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