AN investigation into the controversial deselection of six Labour councillors has yet to conclude, the Guardian understands.

The investigation, which is being supervised by London Labour director Ken Clarke, began more than a month ago and the selection process was suspended.

A spokesman for the London party said it would conclude “as quickly as possible” but no specific date was set.

Cathall member Cllr Milton Martin, who was one of those deselected, said: “As far as I'm aware, the four wards that had deselections are still under investigation – the others won't be investigated.

“The four wards were Cathall, Lea Bridge, Grove Green and Forest.”

Cllr Martin has since defected to the Liberal Democrats and the party confirmed it was in talks with a number of other Labour councillors.

The shift takes the Liberal Democrat total up to 21 and leaves Labour at 24, but the majority party could change if other councillors “cross the floor”.

In a major party cull in June, Waltham Forest mayor Cllr Anna Mbachu was also ditched without explanation, as well as Cllrs Shameem Highfield, Tarsem Bhogal, Faiz Yunis and Elisabeth Davies.

A Labour insider claimed the deselections were made because of councillors' association with former council leader Clyde Loakes.

The Guardian also understands a formal complaint has been raised with the London Labour party as a result of the deselections, leading to the investigation.

The regional party was brought in to oversee the selection process after high-profile deselections in 2005, including Simon Wright and Stella Creasy.

Labour in Waltham Forest is said to be in disarray as activists fear a strong challenge from the Liberal Democrats at the next election.

A spokesman for the party in the borough has said no statement will be issued before the investigation concludes.

The Guardian is awaiting a formal statement on the investigation from the London Labour party.