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Conservative leader, David Cameron, has been caught in a row between a council chief executive and a Conservative MP. Somerset CC chief executive, Alan Jones, has sent a letter to Mr Cameron, challenging ‘defamatory and personal' comments made about him in the website blog of local MP, Ian Liddell-Grainger. Mr Jones is now calling for laws to protect chief executives from political heckling. He said he received a hand-written note from the Conservative leader saying he would ‘personally deal with it'. Later, much of the material on the blog disappeared, only to reappear soon afterwards. Mr Jones said: ‘I was prepared to take the normal political knock-about, but for an MP to orchestrate a personal campaign against me is something we should be protected against.' But Mr Liddell-Grainger told The MJ he was within his rights. He said: ‘You can't stop MPs speaking out. The free press and free MPs have the same role of providing a voice for people. ‘Democracy is about free speech. We defend the free press, and people should also protect my freedom to speak. The fact Mr Jones asked David Cameron for help is rather quaint. ‘No MP would take it seriously. The fact is that Mr Jones calls all the shots. That is undemocratic. It deserves a sustained attack.' Director general of SOLACE, David Clark, said: ‘Chief executives have to take stick for all kinds of things. 'It is outrageous that people feel they can take a pop like that, particularly at public servants, because they cannot fight back. ‘It is silly and juvenile. I have every sympathy for Mr Jones, but I am not sure what kind of law could stop MPs commenting on things.'

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WHITEHALL

Tory leader caught up in war of words between MP and chief

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