Labour councillors have been accused of "allowing the tail to wag the dog" after agreeing to share power with the Conservatives on a coalition council cabinet.

The national Labour Party criticised Stockton Labour group over its decision to form a 50/50 administration with the Tories.

The Labour group won 22 seats in the local elections on May 3, while the Tories won 13.

A spokesman for the national party said seats on the cabinet should have been proportional and criticised the Labour group for agreeing to Conservative Ken Lupton being leader - giving him the casting vote.

The Labour Party's national executive is to discuss Stockton Labour group's decision at its next meeting.

A Labour Party national officer met the Stockton group before the council's annual meeting yesterday and advised them against the move.

"Regional and national Labour Party officers strongly advised the 22 councillors elected under the Labour Party banner that any deal to run the council must be at least proportionate to the number of seats won to reflect the wishes of the voters," the spokesman said.

"Giving away the leadership of the council to a minority party allows the tail to wag the dog."

After Labour lost its overall majority at the elections, Councillor Lupton suggested all five groups on the council form a rainbow coalition, where they were each represented on the cabinet.

However, the Ingleby Barwick Independent Society, Thornaby Independent Association, and Liberal Democrats refused to join with Labour.

The Tories agreed to join Labour, on the understanding that power would be equal and Coun Lupton would be leader.

If Labour had disagreed, the Conservatives might have formed a coalition with the other three minority groups - leaving Labour out in the cold.

Last night, Labour Leader Bob Gibson, formerly leader of the council, said: "It was not done lightly. It was the best we could get out of it. We think we took the best course of action for the borough. I guess we will have to make a case to the national executive."

Labour cabinet member Steve Nelson said: "We see this approach as the most sensible one to take to achieve our objectives.