MANCHESTER council leader Richard Leese has been reported to national standards watchdogs as the row continues over asylum-seeking councillor Liaqat Ali.

Coun Ali speaks only broken English and his Liberal Democrat colleagues say the leader failed to promote race relations by saying it was "completely unacceptable" that the taxpayer should pay for a translator for the Pakistan-born father-of-eight.

The council's chief legal officer ruled that withdrawing the £20-an-hour service would have broken race laws.

Coun Leese last night said he had accepted the officer's advice and said Lib Dem leader Simon Ashley was trying to "dig himself out of a big hole" by turning the issue into one of race. Both group leaders have now reported each other to the Standards Board - whose investigations can see councillors suspended for a year - amid some of the most bitter political exchanges for years.

The Manchester Evening News revealed in June how Coun Ali, elected as member for Longsight in May's local elections, needed an interpreter to understand council meetings.

Coun Leese told the M.E.N. at the time: "It is up to the people of Longsight if they want to elect an Urdu speaker or an English speaker.

"But it is completely unacceptable that the council, and not the Liberal Democrats, should be paying for a translator." Coun Leese's Labour group raised "concerns" with city solicitor Susan Orrell about who was footing the bill.

Ms Orrell responded that the council had a duty to provide the translator under Section 71 of the Race Relations Act , which says councils must promote equality of opportunity.

Coun Ashley said Coun Leese should have issued a full retraction of his comments at a fiery full council meeting earlier this month.

"We offered him the chance to explain how his actions had promoted positive race relations in Manchester and if he regretted proposing to break the Race Relations Act," said Coun Ashley.

"He failed to answer the first question and said he didn't regret the second. He has left me with no choice but to refer him to the Standards Board." Coun Leese said: "This is a really very embarrassed Simon Ashley realising he has dug himself into a big hole with Coun Ali.

"He is trying to get out by turning this into a race issue and a personal attack on me. I don't think he is going to be able to deflect from his own failings." Debates in the town hall are hotting up with every seat up for grabs in elections next year.

Coun Leese reported Coun Ashley earlier this month for failing to withdraw accusations the council was hoarding more than £6m of government money for schools.

A government officer admitted in a letter the town hall was passing on all its education cash.

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