The leader of the council has refused calls to “take action” after one of his Tory councillors posted derogatory comments about “benefit claiming scum”, black people, lesbians and disabled people on Facebook.

Councillor Tom Davey came under fire from the Barnet Labour group, who said the posts he made on the social networking site in 2008 and 2009 were "disgusting" and “unacceptable”.

The posts, which have since been republished online via Political Scrapbook, referred to “benefit claiming scum” and in another Cllr Davey said he was “more excited than Harold Shipman in a nursing home”.

Cllr Davey issued a statement to the Times Series apologising for the comments, and said they were intended to be “jokey saloon bar humour”.

But leader of the Labour group Cllr Alison Moore, said Cllr Davey was “not fit for office” and motioned for council leader Cllr Richard Cornelius, to take action.

Speaking to the Times Series, Cllr Cornelius said: “Cllr Davey's issued a fulsome apology. But, it was a long time ago.

“As far as I’m concerned he’s apologised and the matter is closed. I think he very much regrets having said that.”