Medway Council has received two formal complaints regarding a spat between political rivals.

Cllr Alex Paterson (Lab) confronted Cllr Barry Kemp (Con) after last week’s full council meeting, accusing his opponent of “blatantly xenophobic and arguably racist” remarks.

The flashpoint happened after Cllr Kemp asked Cllr Paterson to speak more slowly during proceedings, although it is not known if the former mayor made any reference to his Scottish roots.

The unitary authority has confirmed it has received two formal complaints in relation to the matter, although it cannot disclose the subject of the charges.

According to the council’s complaints procedure, “details of the allegations made against a member should not be made public until the end of the process and only if there’s an investigation”.

It also states the issues should be “settled quickly, efficiently and informally in a way that represents value for money”.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service after the face-up, Cllr Paterson said: “I told him that he was an ignorant man, and I stand by those comments.

“If there’s no apology from him for blatantly xenophobic and arguably racist remarks, then there will certainly be no apology from me for responding to it.”

The Rochester West representative, who won his seat in a by-election earlier this year, said no one has had difficulty with his accent in the 18 years he has spent living in England.

Cllr Kemp was quickly supported by Conservative colleagues, and said he was upset by the way his opponent approached him. He also denied being a xenophobe.

He added: “He came across, pointing fingers. He said he was outraged and made some very insulting remarks – I can’t remember exactly what he said, it happened so quickly.

“I’m half Scottish, so I can’t see there is (a xenophobic factor). Most of my relatives are Scottish, and when I go on holiday to Scotland I understand them perfectly.”