A Green county councillor has formally apologised for making an offensive hand gesture to Reform councillors at a meeting where freedom of expression was being discussed.
Ironically, the incident - dubbed 'w**kergate' - happened in the council chamber at County Hall shortly before a Reform motion which focused on freedom of expression.
That motion saw the authority agree that a review of the council's constitution should consider how members who make "controversial, offensive, shocking or provocative comments" at meetings or on social media are protected.
At Tuesday's (September 22) full council meeting, Ms Smith addressed the council chamber to formally apologise.
She said: "I apologise for any offence caused in this chamber. My enthusiasm for exercising free speech may have been misplaced.
"I hope we can all move past this and reinforce existing standards as the complainant seems to desire."
Ms Smith became county councillor and Norwich city councillor for Bowthorpe in May's elections.
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