A TORY councillor has come under fire for a vicious personal attack on Labour MP and Oscar winner Glenda Jackson.

After the MP of 21 years stood in Parliament to criticise to what extent Margaret Thatcher should be viewed as an inspiration to women, councillor for Ledsham and Manor Gareth Anderson branded Ms Jackson a ‘rotting pork chop on a stick’.

Cllr Anderson, who once taught history at Hilbre High School, was asked to delete the tweet by Labour councillor for Little Neston and Burton ward Louise Gittins.

He later admitted: “My intemperance was an insult, it was personal, and I should have thought before sending, but neither sexist or ageist.”

Ellesmere Port and Neston’s Labour MP Andrew Miller said: “This is typical of the poor taste I expect from Anderson, who as an ex-teacher ought to know better.

“Perhaps it is a good thing he seems to have left that profession as he does not set standards that I would want children to follow.”

In recent weeks Cllr Anderson has branded people he describes as “lefties” as “scum”.

Section seven of the councillors’ code of conduct stipulates members should “treat others with respect” adding “you must not bully any person, including other councillors, officers of the authority or members of the public.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council Labour leader and Ellesmere Port Town councillor Justin Madders  added: “Gareth Anderson’s language on Twitter is tasteless and he fails to display ‘respect for others’, a key requirement of the councillors' code of conduct.

“This may be why Cllr Anderson is proposing that it is removed from the code.”

Cllr Anderson, a former Whitby High School pupil who has lived in the town since he was four years old, has travelled to London to line the streets for the Margaret Thatcher  funeral procession today.

Cheshire West and Chester Council spokesman Ian Callister said: “Any complaint made against a member for alleged infringement of the council’s code of conduct would be considered in accordance with the authority’s procedures.

“There are no complaints of this matter before the council at this time.”