Chief explains schizophrenia jibe

Mr Whitby said he was offended she could not recall weaknesses

Birmingham City Council's leader who suggested a Labour councillor might be suffering from "schizophrenia, delusion and amnesia" has defended himself.

Mike Whitby had said Marj Bridle might have such conditions as she could not apparently recall her party's administration, which ended in 2004.

He has since said he did not intend to offend those with a mental illness.

Watchdog, the Standards Board for England (SBE), said there are currently no inquiries into the issue.

A spokesperson said: "We can't comment on whether a complaint has been received.

"If we receive an allegation, we carry out an initial assessment, which takes about 10 days."

'Frequent lapses'

Mr Whitby, a Conservative councillor, stressed he did not intend to offend people with a mental illness.

"As someone who has spent much of my life helping people with a whole range of needs, I am well aware the seriousness of mental illness," he said.

"However, in a heated debate in the Council Chamber, I did take great offence at Councillor Bridle's inability to remember the previous weaknesses of the city council.

"In particular (I took great offence at) her frequent lapses into memory loss over the performance of the previous administration, of which she was a prominent member."

The mental illness charity MIND has previously expressed concern at the remarks Mr Whitby made.

Marj Bridle was unavailable for comment on Thursday.