A Tory councillor faces further investigation over an Irish joke claimed to be racist.

Cllr Ken Bamber, 78, told the gag, in which he used the word "Paddy", during a break in a dismissal hearing he was chairing last December.

Cllr Bamber's joke failed to amuse UNISON's Brian Kelly who was representing the sacked employee. Mr Kelly, of Irish descent, claims the joke was racist in intent.

~ Read the original story and the joke told by Cllr Bamber >>>

He complained to the Standards Board of England, and is pursuing a separate case at the Employment Tribunal. Council staff investigated the case for the Standards Board.

But when the case was to be decided on Thursday night investigator, the committee was told that the Board had extended the scope of his inquiry.

They now wanted him to investigate whether Cllr Bamber, ward member for Hoo, did anything that might cause Medway Council to break the 2006 Equality Act.

The independent panel immediately adjourned their own hearing until the new charges are investigated and will only hear the case after the Employment Tribunal hearing in August.