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Labour MP says sorry for old web posts about Girls Aloud ‘orgy’ Labour MP quits equality committee over homophobic posts
(about 1 hour later)
A Labour MP has apologised for posting a series of derogatory comments about celebrities before he was elected but said he would not resign from parliament’s equalities committee. The Labour MP Jared O’Mara has resigned from the women and equalities’ committee after apologising for posting a series of derogatory comments about celebrities before he was elected.
The Sheffield Hallam MP Jared O’Mara said he was deeply ashamed at the online posts, which joked about having an orgy with members of Girls Aloud, claimed Michelle McManus only won Pop Idol “because she was fat”, and suggested it would be funny if jazz star Jamie Cullum was “sodomised with his own piano”. The Sheffield Hallam MP said he was deeply ashamed at the online posts from 2004, which joked about having an orgy with members of Girls Aloud, claimed Michelle McManus had only won Pop Idol “because she was fat”, and suggested it would be funny if the jazz star Jamie Cullum were “sodomised with his own piano”.
The comments – reported by the Guido Fawkes website – prompted calls for O’Mara to be sacked from the Commons women and equalities committee. O’Mara had initially said he wanted to continue to sit on the committee in order to work to confront misogyny. “I understand why they are offensive and sincerely apologise for my use of such unacceptable language,” the MP said in a statement earlier on Monday. “I made the comments as a young man, at a particularly difficult time in my life, but that is no excuse.”
O’Mara said he wanted to continue to sit on the committee in order to work to confront misogyny. “I understand why they are offensive and sincerely apologise for my use of such unacceptable language,” the MP said in a statement. “I made the comments as a young man, at a particularly difficult time in my life, but that is no excuse.” O’Mara said his views had changed significantly since he posted the comments on the Drowned in Sound music website. “I have learned about inequalities of power and how violent language perpetuates them,” he said.
O’Mara said his views had changed significantly since he posted the comments on the Drowned in Sound music website in 2004. “I have learned about inequalities of power and how violent language perpetuates them,” he said.
“I continue to strive to be a better man and work where I can to confront misogyny, which is why I’m so proud to sit on the women and equalities select committee. I will continue to engage with, and crucially learn from, feminist and other equalities groups so as an MP I can do whatever I can to tackle misogyny.”“I continue to strive to be a better man and work where I can to confront misogyny, which is why I’m so proud to sit on the women and equalities select committee. I will continue to engage with, and crucially learn from, feminist and other equalities groups so as an MP I can do whatever I can to tackle misogyny.”
In a comment posted on Drowned in Sound, O’Mara wrote: “Girls Aloud – I advise you to sack Sarah and the remaining four members [Nicola, Cheryl, Nadine and Kimberley] come have an orgy with me.”In a comment posted on Drowned in Sound, O’Mara wrote: “Girls Aloud – I advise you to sack Sarah and the remaining four members [Nicola, Cheryl, Nadine and Kimberley] come have an orgy with me.”
In March 2004, on the same forum, he suggested Pop Idol’s 2003 victor, McManus, had “only won because she was fat”.In March 2004, on the same forum, he suggested Pop Idol’s 2003 victor, McManus, had “only won because she was fat”.
O’Mara, who has cerebral palsy, added: “Being a disabled person, I would hate to win something because people thought I was ‘brave’ or felt sorry for me, rather than for my superior ability/talent.”O’Mara, who has cerebral palsy, added: “Being a disabled person, I would hate to win something because people thought I was ‘brave’ or felt sorry for me, rather than for my superior ability/talent.”
In the same post, he said of Cullum: “It would be no great loss to the music world if he was sodomised with his own piano and subsequently died of a sore arse. In fact, it would be quite funny.”In the same post, he said of Cullum: “It would be no great loss to the music world if he was sodomised with his own piano and subsequently died of a sore arse. In fact, it would be quite funny.”
After O’Mara apologised for the comments, it emerged homophobic posts had appeared under his pseudonym, including references to gay men “fudge-packing”.After O’Mara apologised for the comments, it emerged homophobic posts had appeared under his pseudonym, including references to gay men “fudge-packing”.
One post, which was written on a fan website for the musician Morrissey in 2002, described homosexuality as driving “the Marmite motorway”.One post, which was written on a fan website for the musician Morrissey in 2002, described homosexuality as driving “the Marmite motorway”.
Referring to speculation about the Smiths’ singer’s sexuality, the account posted: “Just cos he writes about gayness and gay issues, doesn’t mean he drives up the Marmite motorway, or, for that matter, allows someone to drive up his... And no, before anyone accuses me of being a homophobe, I’m not. I just think that this story is much more poignantly romantic than fudge packing.”Referring to speculation about the Smiths’ singer’s sexuality, the account posted: “Just cos he writes about gayness and gay issues, doesn’t mean he drives up the Marmite motorway, or, for that matter, allows someone to drive up his... And no, before anyone accuses me of being a homophobe, I’m not. I just think that this story is much more poignantly romantic than fudge packing.”
He also compared homophobia to discrimination faced by people with red hair. “I find it funny how some homosexuals think they have the monopoly on being subject to abuse, they should try being ginger,” the post read.He also compared homophobia to discrimination faced by people with red hair. “I find it funny how some homosexuals think they have the monopoly on being subject to abuse, they should try being ginger,” the post read.
O’Mara is yet to respond to those comments being unearthed. The Liberal Democrat peer and former leader of Sheffield council Paul Scriven called the comments “a nasty pattern of sexist language and misogyny” and called for him to be removed from the committee.
The Liberal Democrat peer and former leader of Sheffield council Paul Scriven claimed: “It seems like a nasty pattern of sexist language and misogyny is developing from the Labour MP for Sheffield Hallam. The Labour MP Jess Phillips, who sat on the committee with O’Mara, said she was saddened by the comments but said she hoped lessons would be learned. She tweeted:
“He clearly isn’t fit to sit on the women and equalities committee. He must stand down from that committee immediately and if he doesn’t, Jeremy Corbyn must take action to remove him. Having spoken to voters in Sheffield Hallam, they are beginning to question what kind of MP he is.”
The Labour MP Jess Phillips, who sits on the committee with O’Mara, said she was saddened by the comments but said she hoped lessons would be learned. She tweeted:
I've been with my kids all day as it is half term so only just seeing the Jared stuff. I'm sad he said and thought it, I'm glad he's apologised. I hope people are learning.I've been with my kids all day as it is half term so only just seeing the Jared stuff. I'm sad he said and thought it, I'm glad he's apologised. I hope people are learning.
Labour MP Tulip Siddiq, who also sits on the committee, said: “Jared’s comments are obviously unacceptable and he’s rightfully apologised for making them. The Labour MP Tulip Siddiq, who also sits on the committee, said: “Jared’s comments are obviously unacceptable and he’s rightfully apologised for making them.
“Jared has, however, told me personally that he’s been on a very long journey since he posted the comments 15 years ago, made at a troubled time in his life, and I think it takes some self-awareness to acknowledge that and say it publicly. He should get some credit for that.”“Jared has, however, told me personally that he’s been on a very long journey since he posted the comments 15 years ago, made at a troubled time in his life, and I think it takes some self-awareness to acknowledge that and say it publicly. He should get some credit for that.”
The row over O’Mara’s comments comes just days after Labour MP Clive Lewis apologised for using a misogynist phrase at a Labour party conference fringe event last month after being criticised by several prominent female colleagues. At the parliamentary Labour party meeting of backbench Labour MPs on Monday night, O’Mara spoke to colleagues and apologised again, a Labour source said.
At a Momentum event, Lewis told the actor Sam Swann to “get on your knees bitch” which both said was intended in jest. Stephen Doughty, the co-chair of Labour’s LGBT PLP group, said he had spoken to the MP about his “totally unacceptable” comments. “I raised my deep concerns directly in person with Jared this afternoon and have received a frank apology,” he said in a statement posted on Twitter.
As more comments from O’Mara were unearthed, several Conservative MPs said he should be removed from his post on the committee. Mims Davies said O’Mara’s “past language and attitude [was] not at all parliamentary” and her Tory colleague Nadine Dorries claimed it was “safe to say Labour can no longer pretend to be the party of equal opportunities and diversity”.
The row over O’Mara’s comments comes just days after the Labour MP Clive Lewis apologised for using a misogynist phrase at a Labour party conference fringe event last month after being criticised by several prominent female colleagues.
At a Momentum event, Lewis told the actor Sam Swann to “get on your knees, bitch” which both said was intended in jest.
On Monday, the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, criticised Conservative MPs who had applied for an urgent debate in parliament on Lewis’s comments. Bercow called the request “a wholly absurd and inappropriate application”.On Monday, the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, criticised Conservative MPs who had applied for an urgent debate in parliament on Lewis’s comments. Bercow called the request “a wholly absurd and inappropriate application”.