TORONTO

The simmering tensions gripping city council exploded Thursday in a bitter shouting match between long-time rivals and possible election opponents Rob Ford and Adam Vaughan.

“You’re a liar — a liar, Adam Vaughan,” Ford yelled, threatening to bring an integrity complaint against the Ward 20 councillor.

“You’ll be out of office before the report comes back,” shot back Vaughan, referring to judge’s order that will remove Ford as mayor effective Dec. 10, unless he wins a judicial stay.

The exchange sparked a free-for-all among the other councillors, with the mayor’s brother Councillor Doug Ford angrily confronting Vaughan by pointing his finger in his face and then shouting at Councillor Janet Davis to “sit down and shut up.”

Rob Ford then retreated to a railing away from council floor and stared at Vaughan while repeating “Liar, liar, liar.”

The two had clashed earlier in the evening as Ford slapped holds on several items Vaughan was seeking council approval for.

One issue that got the mayor’s goat in particular is a development on Queen St. W. rejected by city staff but championed by Vaughan.

Vaughan was asking council to overrule staff with a compromise he’d worked out between the local community and the developer, which includes $1 million in development fees.

Ford accused Vaughan of “shaking down” the developer but then retracted the remark, before going back on the attack.

“You’re just upset you got caught trying to sneak something through,” Ford said. “You’re trying to sneak through a million dollars.”

Vaughan ultimately won the vote 22-4, with only the Ford brothers, Frances Nunziata and Doug Holyday voting against it.