The electromagnetic torque on the toroidal plasma is calculated taking into account the resistive wall rotation. We adopt the cylindrical model and assume, for estimates, a linear plasma response to the applied resonant magnetic perturbation. The obtained relations are used for analysis of the error field shielding by a liquid metal wall in tokamaks predicted in the paper (Zheng L.-J. et al2006 Nucl. Fusion46 L9). Our theory does not support this concept. Instead, it gives the expressions for the torque without singularities, with or without the wall rotation. They show, in particular, that the rotating wall effect can be modelled in existing tokamaks with a conventional wall by applying the rotating external perturbation. The competing theories can therefore be validated against the available experimental data. To facilitate the experimental applications, the results are expressed in terms of measurable quantities.