NEW police and crime commissioner John Campion has survived calls to resign as a county councillor - after rival Labour politicians urged him to quit.

Last month, the Conservative politician became West Mercia Police's new elected figurehead, but insisted he wanted to stay on Worcestershire County Council.

But the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green parties say the PCC role is "a conflict of interest" with his county council position and should give it up, sparking a by-election.

Councillor Campion has consistently stated in recent months how he wants to remain on the authority until the May 2017 elections and then go, rather than lumber taxpayers with a by-election now.

The stance led to boisterous scenes during a full council meeting, where the opposition parties tried to force through a motion urging him to quit.

Angry Tory councillors called it "sour grapes" and "outrageous", claiming a by-election would cost taxpayers £20,000.

But the other parties said Councillor Campion should "do the honourable thing" and go now, claiming he will find it "impossible" to fulfill both roles fairly - not least because he is held to account by a police and crime panel stuffed with Conservative politicians.

Mr Campion is also a councillor on Wyre Forest District Council.

Worcestershire Councillor Liz Tucker, Lib Dem group leader, said: "I know this is a difficult subject to discuss, but it's an important one - a Conservative councillor sitting as the PCC is unlikely to be challenged robustly by fellow Conservative councillors sitting on a police and crime panel."

Labour group leader Councillor Peter McDonald told the chamber "he cannot be a full-time PCC and a county councillor", and claimed quitting now would "save taxpayers £10,000 in allowances and expenses".

"Members of the public who have spoken to me say all they see is 'shiny shilling' - it means he's not prepared to give up his allowances," he said.

"It makes a mockery of the PCC's office, it makes the PCC role look stupid, I urge him to do the decent thing and resign."

Councillor Simon Geraghty, county council leader, said "John has already confirmed he will step down as a county councillor next year", telling the chamber they should "celebrate" a well-known Worcestershire figure getting the big job, not rubbish it.

He also cited figures saying it would cost £20,000 for a by-election in Bewdley, calling it "unnecessary" when there are elections next May anyway.

During stormy exchanges Conservative Councillor Marcus Hart, a cabinet member who acted as Mr Campion's election agent, called the motion "outrageous and scandalous".

"How on earth you think it's a sensible use of taxpayers' money, to have an unnecessary by-election when we're nine months away from elections here is beyond me," he said.

He called the claim people could not do big jobs whilst remaining county councillors "total nonsense", before fellow Tory Nathan Desmond called the motion a "grubby political act".

Councillor Campion's new deputy PCC appointment, fellow Conservative councillor Tracey Onslow, also attracted some criticism as the debate raged on.

Tory Ken Pollock called some of the criticism "ludicrous" but Councillor Tucker said: "We are talking about the perception of reasonable members of the public".

The motion calling on him to resign from County Hall was voted out 19-28.

Councillor Campion was barred from taking part in the debate and had to step outside the chamber.

But in recent weeks he has defended his position to remain a county councillor, saying a by-election would be a waste of public money when he intends to quit next year anyway.