A SENIOR councillor is under investigation after allegedly cracking a joke about Irishmen – during a break in a racial discrimination hearing.

Conservative whip at Medway council Cllr Ken Bamber has been accused of bringing the office of councillor into disrepute by telling the gag about two Irishmen.

The Standards Board for England has ordered the council’s monitoring officer to investigate whether he did behave disreputably, and also whether he was disrespectful to a union representative.

Irish-born Brian Kelly of Unison immediately objected when, it is said, Cllr Bamber referred to two Irishmen as “Paddies” during a break in proceedings, and later stormed out of the sitting.

Cllr Bamber confirmed that he was the subject of an investigation but declined to comment further. Mr Kelly also declined to comment.

See this week's Medway Messenger for the full story.

Do you believe the following joke, allegedly told by Cllr Bamber, is offensive?

"A man walks into a Dublin bar, and sees a friend sitting with an empty glass. “Paddy - can I buy you another?” he asks.

Paddy looks up and says: “Now what would I be wanting with another empty glass?" "