AN outraged Wollescote Labour councillor is demanding a Tory opponent withdraws a remark implying that he missused his powers as chairman of the borough’s taxi committee.

Hayley Green and Cradley South councillor Ken Turner caused uproar at Monday’s full council meeting when he implied Cllr Richard Body had voted for his friends over an appeal by drivers to be allowed to have taxis in colours other than white.

Cllr Body, who represents the Lye and Wollescote ward, is calling on Cllr Turner to publicly revoke his comments or face being reported to the standards committee, which regulates members’ behaviour in public office.

The outspoken Conservative rounded on Cllr Body during a heated exchange sparked by a go-slow protest by about 100 taxi drivers prior to the council meeting in Dudley as they vented their fury at the authority’s refusal to allow them any other colour of vehicle than white, which they claim are more expensive to buy.

The decision had been made at a previous taxi committee meeting, chaired by Cllr Body, who cast his vote in support of the Dudley Private Hire and Taxi Association.

At Monday’s meeting fellow committee member Cllr Turner claimed Cllr Body had admitted to being close to association chairman and campaign leader Shaz Saleem, who is a former Labour election candidate.

He said: “Cllr Body made the comment “I know who my friends are”.”

But he denies knowing Mr Saleem, other than having met him as chairman of the taxi committee.

“I have put a complaint to the legal officer asking him to ask Ken Turner to drop his allegation which was an outrageous lie,” said Cllr Body, adding: “He has raised doubts about my conduct as chairman.”

Cllr Turner told the News the decision at the taxi committee had been made “democratically”, adding: “I was just asking the question - I wanted him to clarify what he meant.”

The councillor said he had witnesses from the committee who would verify that Cllr Body made the comment and he “would look forward to” being taken to the standards committee.

Cllr Body has also rejected calls for his resignation over the issue from Conservative Group leader Cllr Patrick Harley, saying he had done nothing wrong.