Yesterday controversial councillor Brian Hall stepped down from the Pembrokeshire County Council cabinet.

Cllr Hall blamed a "relentless campaign" against him but apologised for the threatening remarks he made against a BBC journalist.

The resignation speech Cllr Hall made in the council chamber is printed in full below.

"I am a simple man and try to do my very best and sometimes lost my cool - probably no different to most. And I say things that I regret. Today I want to apologise publicly for anything that I may have said or done that has caused any distress.

"Over the last five years or so I have suffered a relentless campaign against me. My family have been brought into this vendetta and I am not prepared for this to go on any longer.

"I made what I accept were some very stupid comments to a BBC TV reporter and I deeply regret them comments. Despite the continued provocation I received I apologised to him and his employers in writing over 18 months although I have never heard a word in reply or heard it reported in the media.

"You will all know the Standards Committee decided that I had not brought the Council into disrepute. You would not think so if you had read the local press and various websites recently five weeks on.

"However I do apologise to my colleagues for any problems that I have caused. I have been a councillor for many more years than I care to mention..

Pembroke Dock Town Council, South Pembs District Council, and now County Council and I think I have made a contribution. But one thing I know is that I've worked very hard. Self-praise is no praise but I assure you that I have. I do my best for Pembroke Dock and Pembrokeshire and I have worked all the hours God gave.

My commitment is to the people of the county and this Council, and I have driven thousands of miles on this behalf.

"I have been falsely accused of all sorts of criminal offences by certain individuals and I've been investigated by the District Auditor, the Ombudsman, the local police and the Fraud Squad and uncle Tom Cobley and all, and I've been cleared of any offences. I've had enough of it and I'm not going to take it any more. So that there is no doubt in anyone's mind, I have made a decision.

" I gave the Chief Exec a letter revoking my right to claim travelling expenses and will not be claiming such expenses for the rest of the term of this council. I've also given a conversation to the Leader and I've told him that I intend to resign from the Mid and West Wales Fire Authority, resign is not the right word, I would say, retire from the Mid and West Wales Fire Authority immediately my term of office as chairman finishes shortly. I have asked the leader to decide on my replacement on the Fire Authority.

That was my position until the last 12 hours.

"I have thought long and hard and have decided that my family comes paramount.

Knowing this tirade of abuse would continue even though I have been proved innocent on a number of occasions, I now offer the leader my resignation from the cabinet and I shall decide later whether I shall remain a member of the Independent Group.

"Bearing in mind initially this week nearly all the Independent members told me that they supported me, regrettably some of them say one thing and do another. I shall continue to serve this county and the people of Pembroke Dock, which I have always tried to do to the best of my ability. I shall now leave and thank you very much Mr Chairman".