A CARLISLE councillor has landed himself in hot water amid claims he swore at the deputy leader and squared up to him during a council chamber bust-up – though he insists he was only sticking up for a female colleague.

Council leader John Mallinson and leader of the Conservative group, said the flare-up was so extreme he believed there was a real risk of violence erupting in the council chamber – and he was forced to step between the two men after they went toe-to-toe.

He described the outburst from Labour’s Christopher Robinson at full council on Tuesday, January 7 as the “worst incident” he had witnessed since he started attending meetings in the early 1990s.

Conservative Councillor Gareth Ellis, who was on the receiving end of the alleged abuse, has called on the city’s Labour Party to “condemn and suspend” Mr Robinson, to show the people of Carlisle that “such appalling thug-like behaviour is not acceptable”.

The incident has been reported to the chairwoman of the city council’s Labour group and to the authority’s monitoring officer who deals with standards complaints against councillors.

The flashpoint came after a heated debate over an education motion from Labour councillor Louise Atkinson calling on the council to condemn “Government cuts” to education.

Mr Ellis proposed several changes which acknowledged what he called the “enormous improvements in education” under the Tories nationally, despite the financial pressures faced – amendments that proved deeply unpopular with opposition councillors.

The revised motion was agreed by 18 votes to 17 votes after a fractious meeting which saw Mr Ellis interrupt Mrs Atkinson as she read her motion.

But it was during the adjournment, when councillors retired to consider the amendment, that witnesses said tempers frayed.

It has been reported that Mr Robinson, who represents the Cathedral and Castle ward, approached Mr Ellis, swearing at him and calling him an “idiot”.

Mr Mallinson said he stepped between the men after he became convinced there was a “real risk of physical violence”.

Explaining his comments, Mr Robinson said: “Cllr Ellis attempted to bully and harass a female councillor, Cllr Atkinson, whilst she was delivering a motion on school cuts.

“Firstly, this highlights the lack of concern Cllr Ellis has for the funding crisis and conditions in our schools in Carlisle.

“Secondly, it is my belief he would not have behaved in such a way had it been a male councillor speaking.

“As an experienced councillor, Cllr Ellis is fully aware he should wait until a member has finished speaking, and he had to be told by the Mayor to sit down.

“I was upset and disappointed by his behaviour and, as we were leaving the chamber for an adjournment, I challenged him on what he had done.

“Whilst I did challenge Cllr Ellis, I did not raise my voice or act in a threatening way.

“I do not and will not accept bullying and misogyny and will challenge such behaviours whenever and wherever they raise their heads.

“Had it been a Conservative councillor he was bullying I would have challenged him on it also.”

Mr Ellis said Mr Robinson approached him while he was still seated, leaned over him and shouted at him, using “obscene language”.

He said Mr Robinson appeared “agitated” and stood about 10 inches from his face stared at him in a way that was “intended to be intimidating and threatening”.

Mr Ellis added: “At one point it felt like he was about to actually use violence.

“Other councillors nearby became aware of Cllr Robinson’s conduct and started to intervene to prevent further aggression and he was ushered out of the chamber.

“This kind of thuggish behaviour might occasionally happen late in the evening as inebriated people wander around Botchergate, however it should have no place in our democratic process.”

A formal complaint from Mr Mallinson described Mr Robinson’s conduct as “extremely offensive”.

He said “bullying” and “aggressive” body language shown by Mr Robinson prompted him to intervene amid fears Mr Ellis “was about to become the victim of a physical assault”.

Mr Mallinson also called on the incident to be “fully investigated” and suggested Mr Robinson should apologise.

“The most important thing is that the process is seen to discourage anything like that from ever happening again, but may be that’s a bit of a forlorn hope,” he added.

Councillor Colin Glover, leader of the Labour group, was approached but declined to comment because the matter is now the subject of a formal complaint.

Mrs Atkinson also accused Mr Ellis of “misogyny” and of “bullying” – claims the Conservatives have strongly denied.

A Carlisle City Council spokeswoman confirmed a formal complaint has been received and it will be dealt with in accordance with its procedures.

It is also understood a separate standards complaint has been submitted about Mr Ellis over his behaviour in the run up to the incident.