Labour is to decide if nine rebel councillors who defied former leader Kezia Dugdale to go into a coalition with the Conservatives should be kicked out of the party.

The party's National Executive Committee has now referred the case against the nine, including Aberdeen City Council leader Jenny Laing, to its National Constitutional Committee.

It will consider if they should remain members of the party, though there is no date as yet for that meeting.

The councillors were suspended by Ms Dugdale in May last year after the result of local government elections led them to form a coalition with the Tories to run the council.

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "As recommended by the Scottish Executive Committee, the nine suspended Labour councillors in Aberdeen have been referred by the NEC to the National Constitutional Committee, where their membership of the Labour Party will be considered."

Stephen Flynn, the council's SNP group leader, hit out at Labour, saying new Scottish leader Richard Leonard had "failed miserably" to deal with the councillors.

Mr Flynn said: "Real socialists that campaign 'for the many, not the few' don't prop up the Tories and campaign for cuts to public services.

"Richard Leonard and Jeremy Corbyn need to decide what is more important - protecting vital public services from Tory cuts or doing a favour for their pals."

He branded the situation a "complete farce " and said: "Richard Leonard needs to get his house in order and expel these councillors for good - and join growing calls for them to stand down altogether, so the people of Aberdeen can elect the representatives they want and deserve."