A CITY councillor who shared ‘highly offensive’ Facebook posts did not break rules, an investigation has found.

Ben Lloyd-Shogbesan, who has represented Lye Valley since 2010, shared at least four contentious posts. One compared Nazi Germany to Israel; another claimed cancer was not a disease but ‘a business’.

It emerged he lost his job as a result of the posts, which came to light days after his re-election in May.

An independent investigation found he used his Facebook page – which he deleted when the posts were uncovered – in his personal life and not as a councillor.

The investigation report states: “A councillor is not a councillor 24 hours a day. Conduct that might be regarded as reprehensible and even unlawful is not necessarily covered by the [council’s Code of Conduct].”

Mr Lloyd-Shogbesan said ‘careful, out of context presentation’ of posts in the media had ‘shocked and humiliated him’.

But he resigned the Labour Party whip in May and remains an independent councillor. He referred himself to the council’s standards committee.

Anther post shared seemed to criticise same sex marriage, while a fourth seemed to praise former Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi.

In all instances, he said he had only shared the posts to ‘promote discussion amongst his friends’ and that he did not endorse them.

According to the report, he admitted he had been ‘naive’ with his use of social media.

In May, the leaders of the city council’s Green and Liberal Democrat groups called for his resignation, along with the council’s only other independent councillor, Mick Haines.

Green group leader Craig Simmons, who complained about Mr Lloyd-Shogbesan’s conduct, said: “I said [in May]: personally, I thought he should resign. But we’re not a kangaroo court and we have gone through the process. I think we should feel free to criticise the report. I don’t personally agree with some aspects of it.”

Yesterday Mr Haines said the report was ‘scandalous’ and that he would be urging Mr Lloyd-Shogbesan’s resignation. Andrew Gant, the Liberal Democrat group leader, urged him to ‘take some personal responsibility’ and resign.

Mr Lloyd-Shogbesan said: “I welcome the news that my self-referral to the standards committee has concluded in no further action being required.

"I would like to reiterate that I have never held anti-semitic, homophobic or racist views and fully support the city council’s position on equality, diversity and inclusion. This has been a humbling and educational experience and I remain fully committed to serving the community of Oxford to the very best of my ability.”