His lawyer Peter Keith-Lucas insisted that the committee had no power to decide whether or not to suspend his client.

BBC: Cornwall

Mr Hygate's lawyer, Peter Keith-Lucas, told the committee before the press and public were asked to leave, that the members should refer the matter to the full council.

BBC: Isles of Scilly council chief in suspension legal threat

Signatories to the backbench motion included Labour's Fabian Hamilton and Hugh Bayley, Conservative former minister Sir Peter Bottomley, Lib Dem Julian Huppert, the SNP's Pete Wishart and Green MP Caroline Lucas.

BBC: MPs support giving 16-year-olds the vote