Less than a year into the job, Greenwich Council's deputy is set to face a leadership challenge from a member of his own cabinet, it is claimed.

According to Labour Party sources, deputy leader Councillor John Fahy - who only took the post last year - will be challenged for his role by cabinet member for regeneration Councillor Danny Thorpe at next month's Labour group meeting.

The move has caused anger among some party members. One, who did not want to be named, told News Shopper: "A lot of people are concerned that this challenge comes just before the General Election. He could easily wait for the group meeting next year."

And the news is a dramatic role-reversal from 2012, when Cllr Fahy unsuccessfully took on former leader Chris Roberts to be top dog at the town hall.

Some time after that episode, a leaked voicemail of Cllr Roberts angrily swearing at Cllr Fahy led to an investigation into allegations of bullying. 

It was also claimed that Cllr Fahy was effectively banned from Greenwich Time as punishment for his challenge, even being airbrushed out of a picture, although this was denied by the council.

Cllr Thorpe - seen as a close ally to Roberts and his successor as leader Denise Hyland - declined to comment.