A major civic honour bestowed on the Royal Navy is threatened to be overshadowed by a row over “disrespect” for the Armed Forces.

The spat between Green Party and Conservative councillors erupted as members gave a standing ovation to HMS Kent’s award of the Freedom of Kent this morning at County Hall, Maidstone.

Green member Cllr Steve Campkin refused to leave his seat, incensing Cranbrook Tory representative, Cllr Sean Holden.

After the applause ebbed away, Cllr Holden leant forward to tell Cllr Campkin, who represents Ashford, he was a “disgrace”.

Cllr Holden, a retired Territorial Army major, said: “What I saw was an insult to the men and women of the Royal Navy and that is not acceptable to me and I am sure to the people Cllr Campkin represents.”

The pair had words after the ceremony, with Cllr Campkin defending his position as a democrat and a pacifist.

“Cllr Campkin claimed he was exercising his democratic right and I said ‘These are the people (the navy) who protect your democratic rights’.”

Tomorrow at noon, the ship’s crew will exercise their freedom by marching through the town from Maidstone Town Hall to County Hall via the High Street and Week Street.

Preparations for the event have been years in the making and is an important event in the calendar of the council.

Cllr Holden added: “I gather he says he’s a pacifist. That doesn't excuse him from showing disrespect for the Armed Forces who keep us safe and guarantee him the right to have whatever opinion he cares to have.”

Cllr Campkin said later: “I abstained in the vote because I am a pacifist. I didn’t vote against the motion, either.

“I didn’t want to make it about me and I wasn’t trying to make a political point. However, when everyone stood up, which I wasn’t expecting, I also didn't want to be a hypocrite.”

Pony-tailed Cllr Campkin later made a point of approaching the Type 23 Frigate’s Royal Naval commander Jeremy Brettell to explain himself.

The Green party member added: “I spoke to the Commander...and he was absolutely fine about it and thanked me for having the courage of my convictions.”

HMS Kent is one of the newest of the Royal Naval Type 23 frigates, built in 1998, but the Kent name is linked to the Dukedom going back centuries.

With a top speed of 28 knots, she is crewed by 185 personnel under the command of Commander Brettell. The ship is based at Plymouth.

This week, KCC chairman, Cllr Gary Cooke, said: "There is a long association with the ship and the county so it is a great honour for us, as an authority, to mark our appreciation to award the ship's company with the Freedom of the County."