A BASILDON Council meeting descended into farce as two Ukip councillors denounced their group leader for verbally abusing a rival.

Tory councillor Andrew Schrader criticised Ukip and Labour councillors after introducing a motion condemning a decision to approve a Billericay solar farm.

As he summed up his views at a full council meeting, Ukip group Linda Allport-Hodge referred to Mr Schrader as a “t**t”, a claim she repeated more than once.

When she was asked to apologise, Mrs Allport-Hodge did so, but loudly repeated the four-letter word.

It triggered Ukip colleague David Harrison to stand up to publicly disassociate himself from the group leader’s remarks.

He said: “I may not agree with him (Mr Schrader), but I don’t approve of such comments being made.”

Another Ukip councillor, Nigel Le Gresley, followed suit and voiced his disapproval with Mrs Allport-Hodge.

Echo:

Ukip's Nigel Le Gresley and David Harrison both openly condemned their group leader

After the meeting closed, an angry Mrs Allport-Hodge confronted her two colleagues and threatened to report them for their lack of party loyalty.

Speaking to the Echo today, she said: “It is regrettable that I lost my cool with councillor Schrader, but it was with good reason.

“It was in the heat of the debate and it should never have happened and I apologise.”

Mrs Allport-Hodge also confirmed she would not follow up on her threat to discipline her party colleagues.

She said: “At the end of the day, it is weeks away from the election and we are all under a great deal of pressure.

“Councillor Harrison is a very valuable member, as is councillor Le Gresley.”

The Ukip group leader said she was frustrated with Mr Schrader’s criticism of the planning committee and earlier “filibustering” by Tory councillors, which prevented several agenda items being debated at yesterday's meeting.

The code of conduct for Basildon councillors states members “must treat others with respect”.

Mr Schrader confirmed he would not make a formal complaint.

He added: “I was more surprised than offended. It is quite childish from a councillor, especially a group leader, and I don’t think I did anything to provoke or deserve it.”