Last month, an independent report commissioned by the council concluded that Tindall was more likely to have “sexually harassed” a councilor who “did not feel comfortable being left alone in a room” with him.

Tindall told investigators “I just wouldn’t dream of doing something like that”, adding that he “never used sexual connotations with colleagues”.

In a closed-door hearing, the authority’s standards committee dismissed the findings into his alleged behaviour.

Pringle disclosed the nature of those complaints to council management as part of her role as whip.

She said her colleagues felt “absolutely betrayed but not surprised” by the verdict, adding that they felt “if I stayed in the party then that would have condoned the behaviour”.

She told the BBC that she had witnessed “a complete disregard for the interests of women, especially women who are victimized, harassed, harassed and sexually harassed within the party”.

A council spokesman said that while the authority understood the complainants were disappointed with the results, it was satisfied that all processes and procedures had been followed correctly.

It said it had “advised the complainants of the next steps available to them” but “cannot comment” on allegations of party politics.

Tindall said: “The whole matter of the malicious allegations against me was dealt with by the standards committee and there was no case to answer and no complaint was upheld.

“What disappoints me is that these individuals, elected by the voters, chose to follow personal ambitions and not support the goals of the party.”