Birmingham councillor Salma Yaqoob, who snubbed a George Cross hero by remaining seated during a standing ovation, is at the centre of a new row after being accused by a political opponent of being happy to see people stoned to death if they do not follow a strict Muslim way of life.

Coun Yaqoob was sharply criticised when she refused to join in a round of applause for Afghanistan veteran Lance Corporal Matt Croucher.

Along with Respect Party colleague Mohammed Ishtiaq, she remained on her seat in the city council chamber as everyone else in the room rose to give guest of honour L/Cpl Croucher a spontaneous round of applause.

The protest led prominent Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Mullaney to accuse Coun Yaqoob of wanting to see Britain become an Islamic republic.

He also suggested that she would have risen to applaud a suicide bomber.

Writing on a website, Coun Mullaney claimed: “If Coun Yaqoob had her way, she would be implementing Hadood Law, with hands cut off and stonings.”

He went on: “I can only assume that if one of the failed 21/7 London suicide bombers had been in the council chamber, Coun Yaqoob would have been demanding the council applaud the failed suicide bomber for their past heroic actions.”

He provided a link to an article by Coun Yaqoob entitled The Islamic Republic of Great Britain.

In it, she describes a story set in the future with Prince Charles, who has become King, quitting the throne and living in the Tibet as a Buddhist monk.