THE Adver’s readers have not echoed the official vote of confidence for Swindon’s troubled mayor, with 57 per cent of them voting that he should no longer hold the position after he allegedly made derogatory comments about disabled people.

Councillor Nick Martin survived a historic vote of no confidence on Thursday when his fellow Conservative members managed to tilt the support in his direction with a 27 to 25 result.

But Coun Martin has failed to win the backing of the Adver’s online readers, who were quizzed on their thoughts about whether the mayor should leave his post.

A motion calling for him to resign went before full council after being brought by the leader of the Swindon Labour Group, Coun Jim Grant (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney).

Coun Grant proposed the motion following allegations coming to light that the mayor made derogatory remarks about people with learning difficulties.

In October, during a presentation by a council officer into issues faced with adults with disabilities, he is alleged to have said: “They aren’t still letting those mongols have sex with each other, are they?”

This matter is being investigated by a standards committee but Labour councillors decided one of the main representatives of Swindon should not be tarnished with such scandals and called for him to step down.

There has been a flood of readers taking to the Adver’s website to debate the issue.

One user, called RichardR1, said: “Let’s not forget Martin was censured for misconduct before he became mayor, he should have stood down at that point. But we know politicians have little integrity, they have to be forced to quit.”

Southside7 said: “The man is a disgrace, he has no shame. Depressing saga on so very many levels.”

And dukeofM4 said: “Does it matter who is mayor? He can’t change the budget, change taxes, or make any other meaningful changes except wear a medal, get out of a limo, and cut the ribbon for some new stretch of road or building! Who cares.”

Floggitlad wrote: “As usual things are turned around to save face and to save the party.”

Rigger said: “I’m not defending the bloke, but you do realise the comments are ‘alleged’? Nothing has actually been proven, at all. In fact, the allegations appear to have come from two, er, Labour councillors.”