Council leader John Tanner blundered at a sensitive meeting when he burst into laughter during a debate on mental health.

Oxford City Council's leading politician later apologised for the gaffe, claiming he was "bored out of his skull" and wanted to go home.

But the extraordinary outburst was branded "disgraceful" by opposition councillors.

The Labour leader's blunder came as Liberal Democrat Catherine Hodgkinson gave a moving speech about a relative with mental health problems.

She told a meeting of the council how her nephew struggled after being placed into the community when his care home was sold off to a property developer.

Cllr Tanner was reading a newspaper and started laughing. Angry Lib Dem Cllr Jean Fooks immediately branded his behaviour "disgraceful", and there were other shouts of "apologise".

Cllr Tanner addressed the chairman of the meeting, Lord Mayor Val Smith, saying: "I am bored out of my skull and want to go home."

Earlier in the debate, Green councillor Xanthe Bevis criticised Labour members for not taking mental health issues seriously.

It was only at the close of the marathon six-and-a-half-hour meeting, at about 10.30pm, that Cllr Tanner apologised to the council. He said: "I'd like to apologise to the member. I meant no disrespect to her or to the subject. I've been here since four and I'm finding it difficult to concentrate."

Afterwards, Cllr Hodgkinson said: "I found the outburst quite astonishing but I'm now willing to accept his apology. But this has not reflected well on Cllr Tanner or his party."

Story date: Tuesday 23 November

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