Councillors resign over blogger attacks

Somerton town councillors resigned "en masse" in protest at a barrage of criticism from an internet blogger.

Some 11 members of Somerton Town Council's complement of 15 stepped down on Tuesday.

The walkout came after blogger Niall Connolly branded some members "jackasses" and referred to one leaflet as being "like a Nazi call to arms".

A motion was then proposed that members step down, citing "impossible working conditions".

There were a 11 resignations, with one "sympathy" walkout and another member going on holiday.

Councillor Ian Neale walked out but did not resign, fearing that funding for four projects he was working on might be lost.

Mr Neale said the comments on the blog, at www.muckandbrass.blogspot.com, were "probably the catalyst" for the walkout, although he had only heard of Connolly's outspoken work from others.

He said: "My fellow councillors took great exception to it. The undermining was precipitated by the fact that Mr Connolly wanted information from the council that he felt was being kept covert.

"He comes to meetings, takes copious notes then goes back to his computer and makes criticisms."

A legal team has been looking at the blog to see if it constitutes defamation, he added.