A row over a debate on the CBS Arena led to the Coventry Conservative group storming out of the council chamber yesterday (6 December.) All of the Tory councillors left the meeting after they were told by its chair, Lord Mayor Cllr Kevin Maton, that they had to change the wording of a motion they wanted to raise.

The party had tried to move a debate calling for Labour council leader Cllr George Duggins to explain his communications around the council's alleged role in a failed bail-out of Wasps and arena operators ACL. The motion raised by Tory leader Cllr Gary Ridley and seconded by party colleague Cllr Peter Male stated: "Following the council’s admission that talks have taken place with Wasps RFC regarding a potential bail-out, this council calls on the leader of the council to explain why his version of events differs from those of the chief executive."

Labour councillors objected to its wording as they claimed 'the council' referred to all 54 elected members who they said had not taken part in any talks. Labour councillor Mal Mutton called the motion a "downright lie" and said it should be "removed without delay."

"We the elected members of this chamber are the council, and we've never admitted to Wasps about a potential buyout because it's never been on the order paper," she said. "There's absolutely no reason for this to be on the agenda and it should be removed without delay."