A FENLAND councillor who used the F-word on his website believes a decision to report him to a standards watchdog is an over-reaction. This is all about cheap political point-scoring and has little to do with the rights and wrongs of the argument, said

A FENLAND councillor who used the F-word on his website believes a decision to report him to a standards watchdog is an over-reaction.

"This is all about cheap political point-scoring and has little to do with the rights and wrongs of the argument," said Councillor Martin Curtis.

But Cllr Curtis has deleted the word from his website pending the outcome of the inquiry.

He was adamant, however, that, in the context in which he used the word, he had done nothing wrong.

"Whilst there is a complaint I feel it appropriate to keep those comments off the site," he said.

"But this should not be taken as an acceptance of the validity of that complaint.

"Only the specific words complained about have been deleted - this means that anyone who wants to put those remarks in the correct context can do so."

Cllr Curtis found himself under fire from Cambridgeshire Labour Party after he used the F-word in a light-hearted section of his "spin blog" - a diary of thoughts and comments he regularly updates.

The website - www.martincurtis.net - is regularly monitored by opponents and Ian Kidman, chairman of Cambridgeshire Labour Party, said the use of the word "disgusted me".

Mr Kidman said the Labour Party was "appalled by the comments, and statements of this nature are not what we expect of leading councillors".

He added: "Accordingly, we have referred Councillor Curtis to the Standard Board of England for damaging the reputation of the office of councillor."

Cllr Curtis, a district and county councillor for Whittlesey, is also a member of the county health and adult social care scrutiny committee.

Cllr Curtis, who is studying for an Open University degree in creative writing and says his ambition is to become an MP, is confident he has done nothing wrong.

"I don't consider the referral unfair," he said, "just another example of politicians wasting the Standards Board time in order to seek political gain.