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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Row over Labour MP's 'pig jibe' | Row over Labour MP's 'pig jibe' |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| A Labour whip has apologised after he appeared to describe the Conservatives as "scum-sucking pigs", insisting his Twitter account had been hacked into. | A Labour whip has apologised after he appeared to describe the Conservatives as "scum-sucking pigs", insisting his Twitter account had been hacked into. |
| A message posted on David Wright's micro-blogging site claimed "you can put lipstick on a scum-sucking pig but it is still a scum-sucking pig". | A message posted on David Wright's micro-blogging site claimed "you can put lipstick on a scum-sucking pig but it is still a scum-sucking pig". |
| The Telford MP apologised for the comment but said it had been "tinkered with" to make it "more offensive". | The Telford MP apologised for the comment but said it had been "tinkered with" to make it "more offensive". |
| But the Conservatives accused him of using "gutter language". | But the Conservatives accused him of using "gutter language". |
| Tory posters | Tory posters |
| The row started after Mr Wright responded to a new Tory ad campaign designed to appeal to former Labour supporters. | The row started after Mr Wright responded to a new Tory ad campaign designed to appeal to former Labour supporters. |
| Launched by leader David Cameron, it featured a series of posters entitled "I have never voted Tory before but". | Launched by leader David Cameron, it featured a series of posters entitled "I have never voted Tory before but". |
| Mr Wright said his response on the social media site Twitter had simply been an echo of a comment made by Barack Obama during the 2008 US Presidential election campaign. | Mr Wright said his response on the social media site Twitter had simply been an echo of a comment made by Barack Obama during the 2008 US Presidential election campaign. |
| During the campaign, Mr Obama controversially said "you can put lipstick on a pig but it is still a pig", remarks widely seen as referring to former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. | During the campaign, Mr Obama controversially said "you can put lipstick on a pig but it is still a pig", remarks widely seen as referring to former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. |
| Mr Wright told the BBC that this was a legitimate "edgy Twitter comment about the political process" and the Tories' "general policy position". | Mr Wright told the BBC that this was a legitimate "edgy Twitter comment about the political process" and the Tories' "general policy position". |
| "If it is good enough for Obama it is good enough for me," he said. | "If it is good enough for Obama it is good enough for me," he said. |
| But he insisted he never used the phrase "scum-sucking", saying his account had been hacked into and the phrase added by someone after the message was published. | But he insisted he never used the phrase "scum-sucking", saying his account had been hacked into and the phrase added by someone after the message was published. |
| "What I think has happened is someone has tinkered with that and made it more offensive. | "What I think has happened is someone has tinkered with that and made it more offensive. |
| "I try to use Twitter to engage with people. Someone has messed with my account. I find that very frustrating." | "I try to use Twitter to engage with people. Someone has messed with my account. I find that very frustrating." |
| Mr Wright said his original message had been removed from the site and he was now conducting an investigation and had contacted Twitter to find out what had happened. | Mr Wright said his original message had been removed from the site and he was now conducting an investigation and had contacted Twitter to find out what had happened. |
| This is exactly the sort of politics that voters are so sick of Erick Pickles, Conservative chairman | |
| After receiving a number of critical comments about the message, Mr Wright posted a response, writing: "Think you will find the pig is the Tory party not Tory voters. But fair does (sic), apology in the ether." | After receiving a number of critical comments about the message, Mr Wright posted a response, writing: "Think you will find the pig is the Tory party not Tory voters. But fair does (sic), apology in the ether." |
| He subsequently posted another message, adding: "Apologised. Not forced. Genuine." | He subsequently posted another message, adding: "Apologised. Not forced. Genuine." |
| But the Conservatives said such behaviour was likely to further alienate the public at a time when politicians were held in low regard. | But the Conservatives said such behaviour was likely to further alienate the public at a time when politicians were held in low regard. |
| "This is exactly the sort of politics that voters are so sick of," said Conservative party chairman Eric Pickles. | "This is exactly the sort of politics that voters are so sick of," said Conservative party chairman Eric Pickles. |
| "All one of Gordon Brown's ministers can provide in response is gutter language. | "All one of Gordon Brown's ministers can provide in response is gutter language. |
| "This sort of language falls way short of what you would expect of a minister of the Crown." | "This sort of language falls way short of what you would expect of a minister of the Crown." |
| Two recent graduates admitted last July that they had created a fake Twitter account for Foreign Secretary David Miliband. | Two recent graduates admitted last July that they had created a fake Twitter account for Foreign Secretary David Miliband. |
| They broke cover after several newspapers incorrectly reported that Mr Miliband posted a heartfelt tribute to Michael Jackson on his Twitter account following the pop star's death. | They broke cover after several newspapers incorrectly reported that Mr Miliband posted a heartfelt tribute to Michael Jackson on his Twitter account following the pop star's death. |