Candidate seeks legal advice on conference ban as gun 'joke' backfires.

A LIVERPOOL solicitor and would-be MP is considering legal action after he was banned from the Liberal Democrat conference for joking that he had a gun in his pocket.

Jim Murray, the party's General Election candidate for Bootle, jokingly told conference guards searching his shoulder bag he had a semi-automatic gun in his back pocket.

He was stripped of his security pass and sent home by party chiefs in Bournemouth.

Mr Murray said: "It was a weak attempt at humour, especially in the current environment.

"I was aghast to be banned."

He has now written to party officials saying he was disappointed with the way the issue was handled.

He says he is considering his position and taking legal advice.

Sitting Bootle MP Joe Benton said: "I cannot believe that someone could display such irresponsibility, particularly someone who wants to be the MP for my constituents. It is especially irresponsible in the current climate with the threat of terrorism to undermine security at any public event."

A Lib-Dem spokesman said: "This was a jokey remark made to the conference stewards.

"The person responsible has had his conference accreditation revoked."

They said party leader Nick Clegg was not considering dropping him as a candidate in the next election.

It is not the first time Mr Murray, a former councillor for Church ward covering Waterloo on Sefton Council, has courted controversy.

In March, 2006, he was advised to adopt a "less adversarial" style when dealing with people, by a council watchdog.

CAPTION(S):

Jim Murray - I was aghast to be banned from conference