Councillor Mary Clark was ousted as co-chair of the Malden and Coombe neighbourhood committee last night during a meeting some audience members likened to a scene from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

The changes were proposed at the end of the neighbourhood meeting so the committee could move to a chair and vice chair system after fellow committee co-chair Terry Paton stepped down.

But some audience members questioned why this was being done in October rather than in April when re-elections for committee positions would usually take place.

Resident and Malden and Coombe Heritage Society member Julian McCarthy was at the meeting.

He said: “Mary Clark, was unceremoniously, ousted from her position as co-chair of the neighbourhood committee.

“To parody Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, the daggers were to be drawn.

“It was a blow to the spirit, to the dedication and the love of all things Malden and Coombe that Mary Clark represents.”

Coun Clark was said to be visibly upset by the ruling but did not comment before she left the meeting.

She later said she was "upset" and "saddened" by the ruling. 

Coun Clark and Coun Paton will be replaced by former mayor Ken Smith as chair and Beverley Ward Councillor Paul Bedforth as vice-chair.

Beverly Ward Councillor Terry Paton, who has recently taken on the resident services portfolio, said: "I wish I could carry on as co-chair but I'm just too busy at the moment with so many meetings."

Leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition Liz Green said: “I think it’s a bit mean. Despite our political differences I know that Mary really wants what is best for the residents and she enjoyed chairing the committee.”