LEADING Tory politician Jamie Chowdhary's feud with his own party exploded tonight when he walked out of the Reading Borough Council chamber after pledging to take legal action against some of his colleagues.

Cllt Chowdhary, who was deselected by Reading East Tories last autumn to prevent him standing for re-election in Peppard ward this May, was given permission by the Mayor Deborah Edwards to speak before the start of tonight's full council meeting at the Civic Centre.

Sounding highly emotional Cllr Chowdhary expressed disappointment at the conduct of senior colleagues and Reading East Tory MP Rob Wilson since the decision to deselect him was taken.

He told the council he plans to sue members of the local Conservative Party but did not name names, before leaving the chamber to a standing ovation from Labour and Green party members and his Peppard ward Tory colleague Mark Ralph, with the rest of the Conservatives remaining silently in their seats.

Full story in Thursday's Chronicle.