HE MAY have been given one last chance by his Labour colleagues but not everyone believes controversial councillor Chris Newbury should get away so easily with his latest blunder.

HE MAY have been given one last chance by his Labour colleagues but not everyone believes controversial councillor Chris Newbury should get away so easily with his latest blunder.

Following the news about the outrage caused when Mr Newbury told disabled Liberal Democrat councillor Jane Chambers "They used to put people like you down", there have been many calls for his resignation.

A third of voters said yes when the Evening Star asked in an online poll whether Mr Newbury should be made to quit as councillor because of his comments.

The final result of the poll, which was launched after the story was revealed on Monday, saw 67 per cent of voters calling for him to resign with 33 per cent saying he should stay on.

The result is a sign of the disgust that has emerged following Mr Newbury's joke to Mrs Chambers in May when she won the Alexandra seat on Ipswich Council, defeating senior Labour councillor Dianne Hosking.

Labour councillor Mr Newbury, who is known for his offbeat sense of humour, said he had meant the comment light-heartedly but offered Mrs Chambers his abject apologies when she lodged an official complaint.

Since then the Labour group on Ipswich council held a meeting at which he was formally reprimanded. The group later issued a statement expressing their anger at Mr Newbury's comment and although showed no sign of asking him to resign as councillor for Whitehouse said that he will be made to quit if he makes any further inappropriate remarks.

The statement, in which the Labour group disassociated itself from his comment, read: "Cllr Newbury has apologised unreservedly to Cllr Chambers and this has been accepted by her. She has told Cllr Newbury that as far as she is concerned the matter is at an end.

"Cllr Newbury feels his comments were taken out of context but accepts his comments were not appropriate under any circumstances.

"Cllr Newbury has given assurances that there will be no repeat of comments of this nature. He has been warned that if there is any repetition he will be asked to consider his position on the council."

Mr Newbury today declined to comment any further on the incident and simply said: "The party has said all that needs to be said."