UNDER fire Lib Dem councillor Warren Swaine has resigned from Reading Borough Council's cabinet following accusations he made a racial slur towards a mixed race MP on Twitter.

The Katesgrove councillor stepped down from his post as lead member for environment and sustainability last night. Lib Dem leader, Kirsten Bayes, has taken over the role.

Cllr Swaine's departure came just hours before The Chronicle exclusively published how politicians and minority ethnic groups have rounded on him in response to his online remarks - made while Streatham Labour MP Chuka Umunna was appearing on BBC One's Question Time.

He tweeted: "I'm waiting for the Labour guy to claim 'is it because I is black?' as a defense [sic] for being a muppet."

Cllr Swaine denied the comments were racist but refused to comment on the record. For the full story see today's Chronicle.