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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Labour MP Pat Glass apologises after calling voter 'a horrible racist' | Labour MP Pat Glass apologises after calling voter 'a horrible racist' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Labour MP campaigning for the UK to remain in the EU has apologised after being recorded calling a voter a "horrible racist". | A Labour MP campaigning for the UK to remain in the EU has apologised after being recorded calling a voter a "horrible racist". |
| Shadow Europe minister Pat Glass made the comments after an interview with BBC Radio Derby in Sawley, Derbyshire. | Shadow Europe minister Pat Glass made the comments after an interview with BBC Radio Derby in Sawley, Derbyshire. |
| She said: "The very first person I come to is a horrible racist. I'm never coming back to wherever this is." | She said: "The very first person I come to is a horrible racist. I'm never coming back to wherever this is." |
| She later said the comments were "inappropriate" but UKIP said it showed "contempt" for people's concerns. | She later said the comments were "inappropriate" but UKIP said it showed "contempt" for people's concerns. |
| Updates on this story and more from Derbyshire | Updates on this story and more from Derbyshire |
| The man Ms Glass is believed to have been referring to said he had spoken to her about to a Polish family in the area who he believed were living on benefits, describing them as "spongers", but denied being racist. | The man Ms Glass is believed to have been referring to said he had spoken to her about to a Polish family in the area who he believed were living on benefits, describing them as "spongers", but denied being racist. |
| The North West Durham MP said: "The comments I made were inappropriate and I regret them. | The North West Durham MP said: "The comments I made were inappropriate and I regret them. |
| "Concerns about immigration are entirely valid and it's important that politicians engage with them. | "Concerns about immigration are entirely valid and it's important that politicians engage with them. |
| "I apologise to the people living in Sawley for any offence I have caused." | "I apologise to the people living in Sawley for any offence I have caused." |
| 'Shocking' | |
| But those campaigning for the UK to leave the EU criticised her remarks. | But those campaigning for the UK to leave the EU criticised her remarks. |
| Conservative MP Peter Bone, one of the founders of Grassroots Out, said: "It is disappointing that a member of the Remain campaign called a voter a 'horrible racist' for raising perfectly valid concerns about the impact uncontrolled migration is having on the UK." | Conservative MP Peter Bone, one of the founders of Grassroots Out, said: "It is disappointing that a member of the Remain campaign called a voter a 'horrible racist' for raising perfectly valid concerns about the impact uncontrolled migration is having on the UK." |
| And Steven Woolfe MEP, UKIP's migration spokesman, said her comments showed "the contempt Labour has for ordinary workers' concerns". | And Steven Woolfe MEP, UKIP's migration spokesman, said her comments showed "the contempt Labour has for ordinary workers' concerns". |
| "It is in the DNA of the Labour Party. We have had Gordon Brown calling a Labour supporter a bigot, Emily Thornberry ridiculing a white van man displaying an English flag - and now this." | "It is in the DNA of the Labour Party. We have had Gordon Brown calling a Labour supporter a bigot, Emily Thornberry ridiculing a white van man displaying an English flag - and now this." |
| Brendan Chilton, the general secretary of the Labour group campaigning for Brexit - Labour Leave - criticised Ms Glass's comments as "shocking". "A significant number of Labour voters want to leave the EU, and have justified concerns with immigration. | |
| "Pat Glass's comments do not reflect the views of a large number of Labour voters." | |
| Conservative MP for Erewash Maggie Throup had urged Ms Glass "to make a full apology to my constituent at the earliest opportunity" and to return to the area "to see for herself just how great a place it is to live, work and raise a family". | Conservative MP for Erewash Maggie Throup had urged Ms Glass "to make a full apology to my constituent at the earliest opportunity" and to return to the area "to see for herself just how great a place it is to live, work and raise a family". |
| In April 2010, then PM Gordon Brown apologised after being recorded describing a 65-year-old voter as a "bigoted woman". | In April 2010, then PM Gordon Brown apologised after being recorded describing a 65-year-old voter as a "bigoted woman". |
| Labour MP Ms Thornberry quit the shadow cabinet in 2014 after a photo she tweeted of a house with three England flags and a white van parked outside, during the Rochester by-election, was criticised as "disrespectful". | Labour MP Ms Thornberry quit the shadow cabinet in 2014 after a photo she tweeted of a house with three England flags and a white van parked outside, during the Rochester by-election, was criticised as "disrespectful". |