Kay Mason Billig delivered the broadside at Steve Reed, the local government secretary, after his shambolic U-turn saw him reverse his earlier cancellation of local elections and declare they would go ahead in May.

The Norfolk leader claimed she had been "threatened" by Mr Reed into not speaking out against the initial postponement and branded him a "two-faced bully".

Norfolk County Council leader Kay Mason Billig (Image: Denise Bradley)

She also withdrew her authority's support for the devolution process, which had been used as justification for the original election delay.

In response, sources at Mr Reed's department accused her of "vile abuse" and "totally false fabrications".

The extraordinary spat shows no sign of abating and critics of Ms Mason Billig have questioned whether it may have financial implications for the county.

Her council is currently waiting to hear from the government about whether it will "write off" £36m which it has already spent on its ill-fated flagship Western Link road.

Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at County Hall, suggested her outburst might have harmed the chances of help from Westminster.

Steve Morphew (Image: Supplied)

"When you're relying on a minister to rescue the council you lead from a financial crisis caused by incompetent political management of a failed road scheme, it is reckless to throw offensive insults at him," he said.

"Insulting ministers and blaming others won't deflect or distract from the fact it is her Conservatives who are responsible - and now seem intent on making matters worse for the people of Norfolk who have already paid a high price."

Meanwhile, the implications of Ms Mason Billig's withdrawal of support from the process of local government reorganisation and devolution - which would have seen all Norfolk's councils abolished and new unitary replacements created, along with a joint Norfolk-Suffolk mayor - remain unclear.

Some have questioned whether she will be able to stop the process or whether it will simply continue without her council's involvement.

And if the process does collapse, critics point out the region may miss out on money it was due to receive from Westminster under the changes.

Mr Morphew added that Ms Mason Billig appeared ready to "throw away millions of pounds of government investment promised to Norfolk" in what he called "a bizarre overreaction by any standards."

The Norwich Western Link (Image: Norfolk County Council)

"How does she think ministers will respond to her insults?" he said.

"Would you rush to do business with somebody who accuses you of bullying and calls you a bastard in the council chamber?"

For his part, Mr Reed has been facing calls to resign over the debacle.

Meanwhile, Ms Mason Billig has said she stands by her comments but has declined to clarify whether she will stand for re-election when the polls are held in May.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been approached for comment.

© Eastern Daily Press