CALLS for Tory council leader Mike Jones to resign were rejected by the ruling Tory group who returned an overwhelming vote of confidence in their man.

Labour opposition leader Justin Madders set up the heated discussion at a full meeting of Cheshire West and Chester Council in Winsford after he called for an independent inquiry into Cllr Jones’ business affairs.

This followed a critical article in Private Eye magazine and the failure of Cllr Jones’ Saltney-based plumbing and electrical firm ASC Developments which led to angry creditors turning up at council meetings.

The council leader has always maintained his business is a private matter.

He got the support of fellow Conservatives who amended Cllr Madders’ motion to back their leader, noting that under his reign not a single library, children's centre or leisure centre had closed despite the difficult economic climate.

But Labour’s Cllr Mark Henessy, who called for the leader to resign, said: “If he is unable to successfully run a small business what damage can he do to a multi-million pound organisation like this council and the many people who work for it and rely on it for their livelihood?”

Deputy Labour leader Pat Merrick said: “Cllr Mike Jones proudly claimed in 2008 that he would run this council like he runs his own businesses and it would be the best council in the country - one the people of Cheshire West could be proud of.

“Well, I'm afraid that isn't the way it’s developed. He is, in his arrogance, now tarring a whole council with this sense of disrepute.”

Labour colleague Cllr Nicole Meardon described Cllr Jones' conduct as ‘not only rude but unprofessional’ for telling anyone who challenged him, including the public, to ‘shut up and sit down’.

Defending her leader, Tory executive member Cllr Lynn Riley hit back: “All these cheap shots about the failure of Cllr Jones’ business cannot be compared to the sound financial management that this council has exhibited under Cllr Jones’ leadership since it started in 2009.

“Sound financial management that has given every member in this chamber £10,000 every year to put to good use in their neighbourhood.”

She described the Labour opposition leader’s call for the leader of the council to be elected on a yearly basis as 'ridiculous'.

Fellow Conservative Cllr Gareth Anderson described the opposition motion as ‘nothing more than a sordid attack over a personal issue’.

He said he himself been a victim of such personal attacks including while teaching at Frodsham College when he alleged a member of the opposition present had ‘interrogated some of my students to try and find dirt on me’.

By contrast, Cllr Anderson said when handed a recording of an opposition member carrying out ‘a lewd act’ in a semi-public place he had destroyed it.

“Attack people for what they do in office, don’t smear and infer,” he implored. “Be honest and open and let people have a personal life because otherwise there are some people on that side of the chamber who certainly wouldn’t escape.”