CONSERVATIVES have been accused of “an affront to democracy” after police were called to remove a councillor from a meeting last week.

Police officers arrived at the Basildon Centre at about 9pm on Thursday evening.

For 90 minutes prior, Nethermayne councillor Kerry Smith, leader of the Independent Group, had been refusing to leave the room following a majority vote for him to be removed.

Mr Smith had accused Conservative council leader Andrew Baggott of using the announcements section of the meeting for a “party political broadcast” as he set out his opposition to Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ expansion plans.

“It was an affront to democracy,” Mr Smith said.

“Whenever the Tories get a bit of blowback they are going to use their majority to get opposition councillors kicked out,” he alleged.

“I wouldn’t have batted an eyelid if the leader had just said he was opposing the ULEZ, but he used that moment to take a swipe at the other parties unopposed.”

Police officers left the building after speaking with Mr Smith.

“No offences were identified and advice was given to adjourn the meeting,” an Essex Police spokesman said.

The meeting resumed at 10.55pm, with Mr Smith still present.

Sam Gascoyne, Conservative councillor for Pitsea North West, labelled the events “farcical” but said Mr Smith could have made his point without bringing the whole meeting to a standstill.

“His behaviour was embarrassing, he could have raised his objection without shouting over everyone,” he said.

“We wanted to hear from the opposition, we wanted to hear from the public, core parts of the democratic process, and he did not allow that.”

Explaining why the meeting was re-adjourned late in the evening with votes rushed through - without debate or public questions - Mr Gascoyne added: “We didn’t want this behaviour to be rewarded.

“We don’t want people to think they can kick up a stink and get their way and have a meeting stopped.”

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Mayor of Basildon Luke Mackenzie, who chaired the meeting, said: “I politely asked him to stop which he refused to do so. Therefore, I had to use a point of order to ask him to leave the meeting.”

Crays Hill resident Leonard Gridley, who attended the meeting, called the proceedings “a complete joke”.

“I wanted to ask the council when they are going to be going back to Dale Farm to clear the site, but instead they spent the night arguing,” he said.