Senator David Burch said he ripped up a speech and returned it to the Mayor of Hamilton because he felt "disrespected" and "offended" by it.

The speech was one Charles Gosling made to Rotary members outlining how the Corporation of Hamilton was allied to Government and not an opposition party.

The Government Senate leader said: "It was a speech he gave on 21 March, 2010 when he talked a whole bunch of crap and I was offended.

"I sent it back because I want that man to know and the rest of them to know that if you disrespect people that is what you will get back in return."

Mr. Gosling made the speech in the aftermath of Government's plan to abolish the corporations of Hamilton and St. George.

Senator Burch yesterday hit back against claims by Mr. Gosling and others who described his move as "childish".

And he said the Corporation should not be considered democratic when everyone living within the city couldn't vote.

"Do you know what I believe? I believe people in this Country will accept childishness before they accept dishonesty," he said.

"They will accept childishness before they accept a lack of integrity. They will accept childishness before they accept rhetoric and propaganda.

"[And they] will accept childishness before disrespect. So did I rip it up? Yes I did guilty."

He claimed the Corporation had shown further disrespect by copying Cabinet members in on the letter accompanying the speech, which was addressed to Premier Ewart Brown.

Although he has often been accused and criticised in the media, but took the most recent allegations "personally", Sen. Burch said.

"I am a strange individual and I have been so for 56 years now. I stand out there all by myself and I have some challengers. If you stand out in public and criticise me I do not have no issue with it other than I take it personally."

Mr. Gosling yesterday insisted the theme of both his speech and letter were about the need for Government and the Corporation to come together to bring out the best in Bermuda.

He said: "It's a message and ideal that I stand by today. So I encourage others to visit our website, read the speech and come to their own conclusions."

Opposition Senator Michael Dunkley told this newspaper after yesterday's Senate session had concluded: "The Minister seemed to be very upset with everyone. He started with the Corporation, then the Opposition and then it appeared to me that he focused on his own party members.

"I support everyone's right to speak freely and voice an opinion. However politics is divisive enough even without a ranting such as the Minister's today."

He continued: "As a representative of Government I think the minister has a responsibility to be more even-keeled when he speaks on matters like this; even when he does not like the message he has received.

"What type of example does this send to the community, to our young people, who are looking for positive role models, to the business community for which isn't he one of the substantive ministers?"

To read Mr. Gosling's full speech go to www.cityhall.bm.