Labour councillors accused their Conservative opponents of "mockery" as they withdrew a motion to council in the face of a Conservative amendment.

The labour group's spokesman on housing Janine Howarth had put in the motion calling on the administration to write to government urging changes in housing policy, especially to allow 100,000 council houses to be built.

But it was withdrawn by Coun Howarth after Conservative Oladapo Ibitoye tangled an amendment which began: "This council is disappointed that Coun Howarth and her Labour colleagues have tabled a motion about national issues rather than focussing on the good work being done in Swindon. Recent government figures have revealed that the proportion of council housing in Swindon is higher than the whole of England."

Given the Conservative majority of 17, the amendment would have passed

Coun Howarth quoted the Erskine May parliamentary rules on amendments which say: "Amendments which are vague, trifling or tendered in a spirit of mockery are held to be out of order."

She added: "I consider the amendment, particularly the first sentence to be in a spirit of mockery and as a consequence I would like to withdraw the motion."