There were sensational scenes at the Wednesday's Planning Committee meeting when Councillor Jo Lovelock stood up to read a prepared statement about former Councillor Azam Janjua.

"I am aware of this man's totally unacceptable behaviour towards women. Martin Salter told me all about it so it must be true," she told a hushed gallery. "In this town the only people allowed to harrass women are Labour Party members, just ask Jane Griffiths. And whilst Mr. Janjua was a member of the Labour party I was happy to keep quiet, but now he's a Tory I want everyone to know what a despicable man he is."

Her husband, fellow councillor Peter Ruhemann also got up and left, telling the gallery: "Sorry, I have to go as well or I'm sleeping on the couch tonight. You know what she's like when she gets in one of these moods."

The new Tory boy responded to the accusations: "I've no idea where that silly bitch got the idea that I behave unacceptably towards women."