THE LEADER of Keighley Town Council's Labour group said he would resist what he describes as council attempts to gag him.

Councillor Barry Thorne was speaking after last night's town council meeting where he was accused of breaching a rule which sets out what councillors can speak to the media about.

Cllr Michael Westerman said Cllr Thorne had breached standing order 21B, which states that only the town mayor, deputy mayor and clerk can speak on behalf of the whole council.

The same rule also explains that council committee chairs can speak to the press on matters relating to their committees, while individual councillors can speak about issues concerning their own wards.

Cllr Thorne, who has previously spoken to the Keighley News in his capacity as leader of the Labour group, said he wanted a right to respond to Cllr Westerman.

But town mayor Cllr Javaid Akhtar said this was not an item scheduled for a debate.

Cllr Thorne said: "Someone says something about me and I not allowed to reply? It seems like freedom of speech is in a bit of a parlous state in Keighley at the moment."

Later in the meeting, he added that he did not accept the council's standing order 21B, arguing that this infringed his democratic rights.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Westerman said that Cllr Thorne, along with all other town councillors, had been obliged to accept this rule when he formally took office.

"He can speak on behalf of himself or his ward, I don't think he should be able to speak on behalf of the Labour group," he said.

"He's acting as Labour group spokesman, but Cllr Amjad Zaman is the chair of this group.

"If he does not like the standing orders he should join our policy and governance committee and try and change them.

"I'm speaking as an East Morton councillor. As a councillor I will vote for the good of the people of East Morton. Every councillor should vote for what people in their ward want, not what a [political] party wants."

Cllr Thorne, also commenting after the meeting, said that he is leader of the council's Labour group while Cllr Zaman is the chairman.

He said: "I will continue to speak on behalf of the Labour group. It is the biggest group on the council with over 40 per cent of the vote but we work with everyone on the council to make it more efficient and professional.

"When it comes to the press, I will speak to them as and when I want.

"Although I don't think they were intended to be, the standing orders are against freedom of speech.

"I think they should be amended to reflect the fact that there are now political parties on the town council."