AN OUTSPOKEN councillor blasted his party leader for ‘letting down his colleagues’ in an extraordinary defence of a controversial Brexit speech.

Jake Acock, Liberal Democrat councillor for Shipton and Ascott Under Wychwood, hit out at Witney group leader Julian Cooper for resigning during Wednesday's district council meeting.

Mr Cooper said the reason for the shock announcement was Mr Acock's ‘toxic’ speech calling for the council to support a People’s Vote on Brexit, with a motion proposed by Mr Acock and fellow Liberal Democrat Andy Graham.

But Mr Acock refused to back down after the failed motion, accusing the Conservative group in West Oxfordshire as being 'puppets' of Prime Minister Theresa May.

He also hit out at Labour councillors for only working with the Liberal Democrats 'when it favoured them' - despite the party supporting the People's Vote motion and joining Mr Acock's People's Vote rally in Witney on Wednesday.

Mr Acock added he has been subject to 'personal attacks' on his name, age and surname since Wednesday's meeting.

The Shipton and Ascott councillor insisted the group was aware of Mr Cooper's intention to stand down, but admitted the mid-meeting decision came as a shock.

He said: “We knew there was going to be a new leadership team in place ready to take us into the next set of elections.

“We knew Julian was going to resign but were quite shocked he resigned at that moment in time and let down his colleagues.”

Witney Liberal Democrats have endured a turbulent week, with Mr Cooper deciding to stay on as group leader until January in an emergency meeting on Wednesday.

The group met again yesterday lunchtime to 'resolve their differences', according to chairman Mr Graham.

The Liberal Democrats are the largest opposition in West Oxfordshire, although their eight seats fall considerably short of the Conservatives' 33.

All Conservative councillors in the chamber voted against endorsing the People's Vote, with just 11 Labour and Liberal Democrats in favour.

Mr Acock said: "This district council had a chance to stand up to our MP and government and it failed.

“They’re simply puppets of Mrs May and that showed on Wednesday.”

Despite initial support from Labour councillors during the meeting the mood soon turned, with Witney Central representative Andrew Coles calling Mr Acock's speech 'divisive and inflammatory'.

Mr Acock said: “The only time the Labour party wants to work with the Lib Dems is when it’s in their favour.

“The national Labour party has failed to call out Theresa May on Brexit.

“I don’t think I’ve burnt bridges - I’ve just shown the Labour party what they really are.”

The Liberal Democrat takes great pride in being the youngest councillor in Oxfordshire but said he was subjected to 'ageism' mocking after the motion.

Mr Acock accused one councillor of ageism during the meeting, while he claimed photos of him as a 16-year-old were posted on Twitter.

He was elected to the district council in May after gaining 457 votes, 120 more than his nearest challenger and said this meant his age was irrelevant.

He said: “It’s disgusting that they should attack me purely because of my age.

“If the people didn’t want someone young in the council chamber they wouldn’t have voted for me in such huge numbers.”

But his latest comments drew a backlash from other parties, with district council leader James Mills offering a withering response.

He said: “Jake seems unwilling to accept that there are people who have different views to him and actively chooses to call them names in order to get himself attention.

“I am not aware of any Conservative Councillors commenting on his age but I am aware that he advertises himself on twitter as the “youngest Councillor in Oxfordshire.”

Labour leader Duncan Enright added: “I noticed other people saying his comments were divisive and inflammatory.

“It’s not a comment at all on him or his age or abilities and we don’t want to do that.

“We comment on people’s actions and not themselves.”

Mr Graham said the Liberal Democrats would continue to work with other parties but condemned any insults aimed at his colleague.

He said: “There is no place for the personal insults made by members of the Conservative party particularly on the basis of his age or gender made on twitter or in the council room are not acceptable.

“Councillor Acock is a new councillor and deserves better models of practice to be demonstrated.”