A CONSERVATIVE councillor was drowned out by the noise of opposition councillors banging their desks at a heated meeting as he tried to ask who had insulted a popular head teacher.

Matthew Vickers attempted to ask whoever was responsible to come clean after a male voice was inadvertently heard on the microphone – at a previous meeting – insulting the head of St Michael’s RC Academy in Billingham, Teesside.

The issue was reported in The Northern Echo earlier this week, when head Andrew Ramsey said he was “disappointed and saddened” by the negative comments.

The microphone picked up the male voice saying: “I tell you what, I wouldn’t want him teaching my kids anything,” after Mr Ramsey argued against a proposal to cut free transport to faith schools in the borough.

At a meeting of the full council this week, leader Bob Cook, of Labour, gave an update on the Cabinet meeting – at which point Cllr Vickers raised his question.

He said: “I assume the leader of the council is aware of the press coverage of the most recent Cabinet meeting. Does he feel that the disrespect shown to the hard working head teacher is at the very least inappropriate and unacceptable and does he feel one of his colleagues should own up, take responsibility and apologise for it?”

However, while Cllr Vickers spoke he was drowned out by Labour councillors banging on their wooden desks. Cllr Steve Nelson said to him: “You need a different Sherlock Holmes”, while Cllr Vickers was told he could not ask the question as it was not within council rules.

After the meeting Cllr Vickers said: “The rules are that you either put notice in and ask ten days in advance on any subject at all, or you can ask a question on the material in the meeting.

“My question was related to the Cabinet meeting, which the leader was talking about.” Cllr Vickers said he planned on making an official complaint about being stopped from asking his question.

Cllr Cook said earlier this week it was “impossible” to know who made the comment.