Calls for Hall to resign after he is 'vindicated'

Last Wednesday the committee considered an ombudsman's report that had found Cllr Hall to be in breach of the council's code of conduct.

The report followed an incident in 2005 when Cllr Hall was heard making threats against BBC reporter Simon Morris.

Cllr Hall said that if Mr Morris ever went to Ireland he would not come back. He also said he had friends in Manchester who could break Mr Morris' arms and legs.

But he maintained the comments were made in jest.

Cllr Hall was represented by top London solicitor Tony Child - who also acted for Ken Livingstone after he likened a Jewish journalist to a Nazi.

Mr Child convinced the committee that Cllr Hall was not at the function where the comments were made in an official capacity - despite the fact that he claimed expenses for the journey.

He maintained the committee could not be "some kind of word police" and cited Cllr Hall's rights to freedom of speech under common law and the Human Rights Act.

He said the committee would be "acting unlawfully" if they were to find against Cllr Hall.

After nearly two hours' deliberation the committee ruled there was no breach. Their verdict read: "We do not feel we can make a decision as to whether, in law, he was performing the duties of a councillor."

They added: "We consider that this tirade of threatening remarks could do nothing but bring Cllr Hall into disrepute, but we are not satisfied there was a sufficient connection to his office for it to be said that it brought the office, as opposed to the man, into disrepute."

Mr Child said: "Cllr Hall asked for the opportunity to clear his name in public, his name has now been cleared. He has been vindicated."

But other councillors were less convinced. Cllr Sue Perkins said she would be writing to leader John Davies asking if Cllr Hall should stay on as a cabinet member and querying the expense claim process.

"His behaviour is not acceptable," she said.