A ROW has broken out over a council leader's backing of calls for a second Brexit referendum.

Torfaen County Borough Council's leader Cllr Anthony Hunt was among a number of politicians who signed a letter to first minister Mark Drakeford last month urging him to support a so-called 'people's vote'.

But now some members of the council have questioned whether it was appropriate for Cllr Hunt, who represents Griffithstown, to be identified on the letter as the council leader, given it does not represent the views of the entire council.

Among them is Conservative Greenmeadow ward member Cllr Jason O'Connell, who questioned Cllr Hunt about the letter in the council chamber earlier in the week.

Responding to Cllr O'Connell, Cllr Hunt said: "I signed that letter as an individual, I don’t require the permission of the council or the group to do that.

MORE NEWS:

Patients waited in ambulances outside Aneurin Bevan hospitals for more than 5,000 hours in a six month period

Disabled Cwmbran pensioner struggling after losing PIP appeal

Calls for "change" at Newport High School after lowest school banding rating

"If it was misrepresented in any other way the people misrepresenting that didn’t have my permission to do so."

But, in an email to other councillors after the discussion, Cllr O'Connell said: "I, for one, would like to disassociate myself with this letter, and I am sure I am not alone."

The letter read: "You have already called for an extension of the Article 50 period beyond March 29, 2019, but we now urge you to use your new office to its utmost to demand - of both the UK Government and the UK leadership of your own party - a new People’s Vote in which continued membership of the European Union would be an option on the ballot.

"This new public vote is necessary regardless of whether or not a General Election is called."

Others to sign the letter included Labour AMs for Blaenau Gwent Alun Davies and Torfaen Lynne Neagle, as well as Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price. Plaid South Wales East AM Steffan Lewis – who died later the same month – also signed the letter, as did Wales MEPs Derek Vaughan, for Labour, and Jill Evans, for Plaid Cymru.

Newport City Council leader Cllr Debbie Wilcox was also a signatory, as were Jane Dodds and Anthony Slaughter, leaders of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Wales Green Party respectively.

Senior members of groups including the NUS and Wales for Europe also added their names.