Outspoken MP Ann Cryer could face an inquiry by the National Labour Party over her calls for stricter immigration laws for people wanting to enter Britain who cannot speak English.

The Keighley MP was in the national limelight following Bradford's riots when she called for reforms in the Asian community and said she believed that language difficulties were at the root of poverty and low achievements.

Now Bradford Council's Labour Group has passed a strong notice of motion asking the National Labour Party for an investigation into the Labour MP and whether she is breaking party rules and its ethos.

A private meeting of the Labour Group passed a motion deploring Mrs Cryer for provocative and persistent statements "demonising" the Pakistan and Bangladesh communities and the Muslim community.

It calls on Mrs Cryer to immediately make a public apology and withdraw her comments.

Group leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said he could not give details of the resolution or discuss it because it was at a private meeting.

But he added: "I do not agree with the views which Ann Cryer has spoken of in terms of language tests for immigrants.

"They are very counter productive and may break the European Convention of Human Rights."

But today Mrs Cryer said the group's decisions had been based on articles in national newspapers and copies of her statement which she sent to members had not been read.

She said a decision made in those circumstances was "uncomradely" and she had already invited the group to a meeting on Monday to discuss the whole issue.

"I am a member of the parent body of the European Convention and so would hardly suggest anything against it."

Mrs Cryer said she understood why families went to their communities abroad to find husbands and wives.