DISCIPLINARY action against Labour leader Cllr Peter McDonald following his "utterly disgraceful" behaviour during a public meeting, was called for this week.

Bromsgrove District Council chairman Cllr Mike Gill (Con, Woodvale) demanded action be taken against Cllr McDonald following his conduct at a meeting of the full council.

Cllr Gill claims a Tory member was subject to a "tasteless verbal attack" and council leader Cllr Nick Psirides was repeatedly called "a liar" during the meeting on November 27, 2001.

He has now written to the authority's district secretary and the matter is to be discussed at a meeting of the standards committee tomorrow night.

His letter says: "All councillors were aware of Cllr Joy Bushby's (Catshill) absence due to ill health and yet Cllr McDonald made a tasteless verbal attack on her but only after she had left the chamber because she was feeling unwell and was not able to reply."

He goes on to say the use of the word "liar" is "totally unacceptable in the context of debate at our meetings," adding: "I am thankful there were very few members of the public present because I believe his conduct was utterly disgraceful and should be the subject of disciplinary action through the standards committee."

But Cllr McDonald was unrepentant. He said: "He only has eyes and ears for one side of the debate.

"If he cannot control a meeting he should stop writing letters of diatribe and hand over the chairmanship to someone who can chair meetings correctly and win the respect of councillors from all political parties,." added Cllr McDonald.