A ROGUE social media clause which could have threatened freedom of speech for thousands of council tenants has been backtracked, Sandwell Council has admitted.

The council published a statement explaining the clause had “not come across in the way we intended”.

A Sandwell Council spokesperson said: “We consulted on our tenancy conditions because we wanted to hear what the views of our tenants were.

“The proposals have now reached a wider audience, and it is clear our purpose, which was to make sure that people could do their jobs without being harassed, has not come across in the way we intended.

“We will look at the wording along with all the other areas of review.”

It comes after Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the Commons, referred to Sandwell as a “totalitarian communist state” in reference to the council’s alleged attempt to limit freedom of speech.

The comments came after Shaun Bailey, MP for West Bromwich West, raised his concerns over the Labour-led authority’s public consultation into changing parts of council tenancy agreements, to include a new clause on social media usage, in the House of Commons on November 18.

In a report by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, it was revealed Sandwell Council had a public consultation from October 11 to November 12 to draft new council tenancy agreements.

One of the new clause reads: “You, people living with you and any visitors to your property must not use social media or any other form of communication to make false statements, abuse, threaten, harass or be derogatory towards council employees, contractors, agents or councillors.

“Communication includes telephone calls, text messages, e-mails or posting comments on social media. This condition applies wherever the communication takes place.”

But local councillors and tenants have criticised the moves as an attempt to stop legitimate housing complaints about the council on social media.

Speaking to BBC WM, Shaun Bailey MP, West Bromwich West, said the wording of the agreement was so wide that it ran the risk of being challenged time after time.

Mr Bailey said current tenancy agreements between renters and Sandwell Council are “already covered” by a specific clause (10.9) regarding abuse or harassment of council employees.

He added that politicians, including councillors, need to be challenged.

Sandwell Council has been hit recently by more controversy.

Last week, Rajbir Singh, who was council leader and a councillor for Labour in the Bristnall ward, had stepped down, citing “personal reasons”.

The unusual move to quit partway through a term of office is likely to see the seat remain vacant until next May’s local elections.

In the last three years, the Labour-dominated authority has had five leaders and three chief executives.

Kim Bromley-Derry is the current temporary chief executive, who leads the council’s paid staff, as the authority attempts to find a permanent replacement.