Councillors at the heart of the Kirklees “Ratesgate” scandal are in hot water.

Councillors Amanda Pinnock and Jean Calvert have both been suspended by the Labour party.

A party spokesman confirmed late on Tuesday that action had been taken following their outbursts to the Examiner.

They said: “Jean Calvert and Amanda Pinnock have been suspended by the Labour Party pending an investigation into allegations that they have brought the Party into disrepute.”

The two will now face an investigation by the party’s National Executive Committee.

The news broke shortly after the Examiner published a story online revealing that the unrepentant councillors had both demanded the Examiner apologise to them after we published their reactions to our coverage of their council tax payment issues.

Both had required several reminders and court summons before they coughed up for their bills.

But both had also lashed out at the Examiner instead of issuing public apologies.

Clr Pinnock accused the Examiner of being racist for exposing her transgressions while Clr Calvert claimed the Examiner had misrepresented her comments and demanded an apology.

An investigation into their conduct had already been launched by the Labour party but it is thought their responses to the Examiner prompted an escalation in the action.

Both councillors represent the Ashbrow ward in Huddersfield and had already been ordered to step down from leading any committees or representing the council on outside bodies by Kirklees Labour party leader, Clr Shabir Pandor.

The double suspension comes amid chaos in the Kirklees Labour party as it tries to re-group for a second bid at taking control of the council.

Clr Pandor was left humiliated after becoming the first party leader in about 30 years to fail to win the support of opposition groups, denying him the leadership of Kirklees Council, which is temporarily being run by the chief executive Adrian Lythgo.

It is thought Clr Pandor will make another attempt at getting elected as leader of Kirklees Council at a full meeting of the council on June 29.

The double suspension of two of Labour’s Ratesgate councillors comes seven days after we revealed five of the six who were issued court summons for non-payment of council tax and and on the same day that Kirklees Conservatives asked why no action had been taken.

READ MORE:Exposed 'Ratesgate" councillors demand apologies from the Examiner

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Leader, Clr David Hall, said: “Clearly anyone can make a mistake in failing to pay a bill on time.

“Councillors are human and no different to anyone else in that regard.

“But surely when it comes to paying bills councillors should be making paying council tax a priority.

“Receiving a reminder is reasonable if promptly rectified, but receiving a summons for hundreds of pounds smacks of neglect.

“Many members of the public are having to make ends meet, including paying council tax, and they quite rightly expect paid councilors to do their bit.

“Receiving a summons on more than one occasion, as in the case of former Mayor and Labour deputy leader Clr Jean Calvert, who had previously been taken to court publicly, is unacceptable.

“In the case of Clr Amanda Pinnock, a lawyer who ought to know better, to deny responsibility and then attack the local media as being racist for exposing her, stretches her credulity as an elected member.

“It is reported that both had the gall to deny they were among the culprits.

“If this is true, they have been exposed as not telling the truth, and that is no example to set to the electorate and no way to behave as councillors.

“It is particularly shameful that neither has yet had the decency to apologise, and it calls into question their fitness for public office.”

Two other Labour councillors have been implicated in the scandal.

Examiner reporter Nick Lavigueur speaks about the councillors below

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Crosland Moor and Netherton member, Clr Mohammed Sarwar, issued a statement admitting his error while Batley East member, Clr Amanda Stubley, has said nothing at all on the matter.

Conservative councillor for the Colne Valley, Clr Donna Bellamy, came clean before the shocking details were revealed by Kirklees.

But she owed just £27 compared to the Labour councillors who owed thousands between them.

A sixth councillor, who owed £870.34 when summonsed for non-payment of council tax, has not been identified as they are no longer a serving councillor.