Keighley mayor Councillor Brian Hudson has strongly rejected suggestions that the town council is undemocratic.

But he added he believed two of its councillors had been the subject of a "witch-hunt". He was responding to public reaction to reports that two councillors were warned about their letters to the Keighley News, published late last year.

Cllr David Samuels wrote a letter criticising members of the town council's management and staffing committee and Cllr Judith Brooksbank sent a letter explaining how she openly stood for the council as a Liberal Democrat.

Cllr Hudson told council members: "I'm not undemocratic and I don't believe most of you are. I'm sure you believe in freedom of speech." He said he would have been happy to deal with Cllrs Samuels and Brooksbank by means of an informal word behind the scenes. However, he said other councillors overruled him and insisted on a more formal, severe warning.

"I believe there has been a witch-hunt against two councillors and I wonder who is going to be next," he said. "I think it's time we stopped this picking on individual councillors."

Cllr Brooksbank proposed the town council send a collective letter to the Keighley News, affirming its support for Cllr Hudson.

Cllrs Graham Mitchell, David Miller and Mick Westerman objected, arguing this measure was completely unnecessary.

Cllr Joyce Newton pointed out the resolution could not be proposed anyway, as it had not been included on the meeting's agenda where councillors could view it in advance.

Cllr Brooksbank accepted Cllr Tony Wright's suggestion that the resolution should be deferred until the next full council meeting.

Town councillors were told they should never be afraid to speak out about what they believed in.

Mark Taylor, the assistant to Keighley MP Ann Cryer, told council members that despite their differences, they all shared the common objective of wanting to make a positive difference to their town. "If you don't have the motive to do something good, then you're in the wrong business," he said. "Do not ever let anyone tell you that you should not be allowed to express your view. Because if you're not expressing your view, what the hell are you here for?"

He said the council needed to demonstrate it was capable of assuming more executive power and added there was no doubt that Keighley had huge problems.