SOUTHAMPTON'S Labour Party has launched an internal inquiry into the conduct of one of its most senior figures.

It has emerged that Councillor Paul Jenks made an obscene gesture to a fellow candidate during last Thursday's elections.

Tony Broome from the city's African Caribbean Centre has also written to Prime Minister Tony Blair about Cllr Jenks's conduct.

During a community meeting held at Mount Pleasant Junior School in St Mary's last night, Mr Broome, who also stood during last Thursday's poll, branded Cllr Jenk's behaviour "a disgrace."

Cllr Jenks, whose most recent job was as Cabinet member for regeneration under the last Labour administration, admitted he had given "the 'V sign' to a candidate standing in the Bevois ward during last week's tense election drama.

Cllr Jenks scraped home in his new ward of Sholing by just 64 votes following the count at The Guildhall.

Yesterday, he admitted he had made the gesture to a candidate standing in the hotly-contested Bevois ward, Harjap Singh.

Last Thursday's election provided a cliffhanger finish for the three Labour members elected to the Bevois ward including big guns Councillors Derek Burke and Jacqui Rayment.

They narrowly defeated independent candidates including Bashir Ahmed, Harjap Singh and Tony Broome.

Angry St Mary's residents raised the issue of Cllr Jenks' gesture at the meeting held at Mount Pleasant Junior School last night .

The meeting was called to update residents on community relations following disturbances in Derby Road this year.

But Cllr Jenks' behaviour at last Thursday's count came under the spotlight with Labour's leader June Bridle promising there would be an inquiry into his actions.

She told the meeting: "I was in the Guildhall on Thursday night. I did not see the incident that several people have brought to my attention. That incident is being investigated by the Labour Party as a whole."

She added: "Please wait for the outcome of that inquiry. Don't judge at this moment in time"

Chairman of the meeting, Farooq Ahmed said he had been present during the controversial incident and felt Cllr Jenk's gesture had been aimed at him.

He said: "I can assure the community I am with you. I was there on Thursday. I felt the two fingers were stuck up at me as well."

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Jenks admitted he had made the gesture. He said he had been concerned at the way one of the independent candidates, Harjap Singh, had been behaving during the election.

He said: "It was a pretty emotional night. With hindsight, it was not a very bright thing to do. I have spoken to Farooq Ahmed and said it was a stupid thing to do and clearly it caused offence. I have apologised to a number of people."

He said his gesture had been aimed at the independent candidate whose campaign had angered him and denied that his gesture had been racist.

He said: "I am aware that somebody said I was acting in a racist manner. I have represented that area for a number of years. I think I would have been found out by now."