CALLS for a 'booze ban' at Worcestershire County Council's HQ have been rejected - as politicians today got into a row over "smearing" its ex-leader.

The Labour Party has failed in a bid to get alcohol banned from County Hall in the aftermath of the fall from grace of Councillor Adrian Hardman.

As your Worcester News first revealed in December, Councillor Hardman was arrested two days before Christmas for drink driving and then quit as leader before he was banned from the roads for 16 months by magistrates.

Despite his offence taking place in Tewkesbury, miles from County Hall, the Labour group today claimed banning any booze from the HQ would send out a strong message that alcohol is dangerous.

But the other parties said a complete ban would be unworkable due to the various functions that take place including weddings, table-top sales, business events, conferences, hospitality for invited guests like possible investors, and even goodbye bashes for long-serving staff where tipples are sometimes served.

The leadership also pointed to previous changes in 2010, meaning alcohol is now only allowed on the premises if it is signed off by the chief executive and chairman, following the departure of disgraced former leader George Lord, who was a well-known drinker during his time in charge and even kept a well-stocked drinks cabinet in his office.

The motion on a complete ban was voted out after heated disagreement between the parties.

The Labour group did not mention Councillor Hardman by name, but did make several thinly-veiled references to him, sparking outrage.

Labour Councillor Graham Vickery, who led the motion, said: "If driving under the influence is bad for you, what does it say about leadership?"

Group leader Councillor Peter McDonald added: "If we had a complete alcohol ban it would be clean-cut.

"It removes the temptation to have a drink, and removes the temptation to get into your car afterwards - this council needs to lead by example."

He also reminded the chamber about a bar that used to sell booze in County Hall many years ago, saying many people “would not believe” it ever existed.

But new leader Councillor Simon Geraghty said he wanted to "set the record straight", telling the chamber the recent removal of an old cabinet in his office contained no alcohol.

He said it was "a display cabinet" rather than a drinks one, and told councillors he had no evidence whatsoever of alcohol being an issue on the premises.

“I have not removed a ‘drinks cabinet’, I removed a display cabinet that contained no alcohol – we have a very clear policy at this council of not allowing people to drink on duty and I have no evidence to suggest this is being abused,” he said.

“I would urge people to reject this motion, I don’t think it is necessary or appropriate.”

Fellow Conservative Councillor Bob Banks hit out at the motion, calling it "scurrilous" and a "malicious, albeit thinly-veiled attempt to smear one members' private life".

Labour Councillor Joseph Baker said "you've only got to into the fridge of the members room" to sometimes see bottles of wine in there, but in response other politicians suggested he had imagined it.

Lib Dem Councillor Fran Oborski called the motion “spiteful and irrelevant”, while Tory Councillor Ken Pollock suggested it would be impractical to police, pointing to families who sometimes have picnics on the lush green grounds around the building.

He said: “What is going to happen if they come for a picnic and have a glass of wine, it someone going to go outside and tell them not to do it?”

He called it “ludicrous and stupid”, leading to more exchanges back and forth with several other politicians.

Councillor Richard Udall, who chairs the Labour group, said: “This is a suggestion that has come from this side of the chamber many times, because we’ve seen the consequences of alcohol.

“All this nonsense about it being impossible due to retirement parties for staff, they can go to the pub and have a drink.”

Tory Councillor Marc Bayliss labelled it “a pack of lies”, but Labour Councillor Pat Agar did not refer to George Lord by name but told of “this council allowing alcoholics to go on drinking”, reminding them of a previous council member who went to court and had problems “that were well documented”.

In turn Tory Councillor John Campion said "there isn't a drinking culture in this building", calling the motion "a veiled attempt to undermine" Councillor Hardman.

Councillor Hardman, who represents Bredon, was temporarily suspended by the Conservative group before appearing at Tewkesbury magistrates last month, making him an independent.

But he has now been allowed to return to the group and was sat back among the Tory benches today.

He was banned from driving for 16 months but a district judge confirmed he had never been in trouble with the courts ever before.

Nor was there any suggestion he had ever consumed alcohol in his work as leader, with the 59-year-old driving home from a Tewkesbury pub before he was pulled over.

He led the authority for five years until last month.

* GUILTY: Ex-council leader Adrian Hardman banned from driving for 16 months