A COUNCILLOR stormed out of a debate about housing in Basildon, branding UKIP councillors racist.

Pat Rackley, an independent Labour councillor, stormed out of a full council discussion on affordable homes after UKIP councillor Linda Allport Hodge blamed mass immigration into the country on the high number of homes needed to be built.

Echo: Calling for investigation – campaigner Linda Allport-Hodge

Statistics: Linda Allport-Hodge

Mrs Allport-Hodge said more than four million “foreigners” had moved to the UK since July 2010.

Mrs Rackley stood up saying: “This is absolute racism, absolute racism. I am not listening to this,” before leaving the council chamber.