Porn reprimand for councillors

LABOUR'S 10,400 local councillors are being warned not to misuse their personal computers after incidents of accessing pornographic material.

The party's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) is expected to decide today to lift suspensions but reprimand two members of Shropshire County Council after a police investigation into porn on the Internet. Four Shropshire councillors were charged under the Computer Misuse Act but the Crown Prosecution Service later dropped the charges.

A confidential report into the Shropshire affair, obtained by The Independent, reveals the Labour's inquiry panel found that Peter Taylor and Derek Woodvine were "not impressive" as witnesses and were "less than frank with their answers."

Councillor Taylor "admitted drawing down images" at home using a council modem but insisted he paid the phone cost. He strenuously denied accessing images connected with hard porn or paedophilia.

Councillor Woodvine told the Labour inquiry the police had been waiting for an opportunity to "stitch him up" after he criticised their handling of a murder case.

Both councillors blamed the problems which provoked the police investigation on two other councillors who subsequently left the Labour Party.

The panel proposed that Cllr Taylor be warned about his future conduct and Cllr Woodvine be reminded of his duty to protect the party's good name.