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Row erupts over candidate's class | Row erupts over candidate's class |
(10 minutes later) | |
Labour's candidate for Somerset North East has said his Tory opponent's aristocratic upbringing meant he could not relate to ordinary people. | |
Dan Morris denied making class an issue but suggested Jacob Rees-Mogg would not be able to understand regular people. | Dan Morris denied making class an issue but suggested Jacob Rees-Mogg would not be able to understand regular people. |
Mr Rees-Mogg said it was trivial to discuss his background and that it was more important to discuss issues. | Mr Rees-Mogg said it was trivial to discuss his background and that it was more important to discuss issues. |
Liberal Democrat candidate Gail Coleshill said she did not understand what the fuss was about. | Liberal Democrat candidate Gail Coleshill said she did not understand what the fuss was about. |
The comments were made at a general election debate on BBC Somerset held at the Royal British Legion in Keynsham. | The comments were made at a general election debate on BBC Somerset held at the Royal British Legion in Keynsham. |
'Potted plant' | 'Potted plant' |
Mr Rees-Mogg attended Eton and Oxford University, was an investment banker and his father is former Times editor Baron William Rees-Mogg. | Mr Rees-Mogg attended Eton and Oxford University, was an investment banker and his father is former Times editor Baron William Rees-Mogg. |
Mr Norris said: "It's not Mr Rees-Mogg's class that is the challenge here, it's his background - how well does he understand ordinary, everyday people? | Mr Norris said: "It's not Mr Rees-Mogg's class that is the challenge here, it's his background - how well does he understand ordinary, everyday people? |
"He says he has an accent that is typical of Somerset - I think anybody listening to this broadcast will hear that that is not the case." | "He says he has an accent that is typical of Somerset - I think anybody listening to this broadcast will hear that that is not the case." |
Just because you mention it, it doesn't mean you are calling somebody a potted plant Jacob Rees-Mogg | Just because you mention it, it doesn't mean you are calling somebody a potted plant Jacob Rees-Mogg |
Mr Norris raised the issue of class when discussing previous claims that Mr Rees-Mogg had called people who had not attended university at Oxford or Cambridge "potted plants". | Mr Norris raised the issue of class when discussing previous claims that Mr Rees-Mogg had called people who had not attended university at Oxford or Cambridge "potted plants". |
Mr Norris was referring to an appearance on Newsnight in 2006 when Mr Rees-Mogg was discussing the number of Tory candidates who had attended 'Oxbridge'. | Mr Norris was referring to an appearance on Newsnight in 2006 when Mr Rees-Mogg was discussing the number of Tory candidates who had attended 'Oxbridge'. |
At the time, he said: "The Tory party, when it's elected, has to be able to form a government and it's not going to be able to form a government if it has potted plants as candidates simply to make up quotas." | At the time, he said: "The Tory party, when it's elected, has to be able to form a government and it's not going to be able to form a government if it has potted plants as candidates simply to make up quotas." |
'Grand mix' | 'Grand mix' |
Mr Norris said he only brought up the accusation because "if he [Mr Rees-Mogg] says things like that, he is setting that agenda; he is raising those issues." | Mr Norris said he only brought up the accusation because "if he [Mr Rees-Mogg] says things like that, he is setting that agenda; he is raising those issues." |
Mr Rees-Mogg said: "I think these personal criticisms are mistakes and I don't think it's the way people want politics to be run when the country is facing major problems. | Mr Rees-Mogg said: "I think these personal criticisms are mistakes and I don't think it's the way people want politics to be run when the country is facing major problems. |
"The risks in politics of being taken out of context is a very great one... just because you mention it, it doesn't mean you are calling somebody a potted plant." | "The risks in politics of being taken out of context is a very great one... just because you mention it, it doesn't mean you are calling somebody a potted plant." |
Liberal Democrat candidate Gail Coleshill said: "I don't understand why such a fuss is being made. | Liberal Democrat candidate Gail Coleshill said: "I don't understand why such a fuss is being made. |
"There must be people in Somerset North East who are rich, and have aristocratic backgrounds - we're a grand mix of people in North East Somerset and I hope that we would all represent them all." | |
The candidates announced so far in Somerset North East are: Conservative: Jacob Rees-Mogg; Labour: Dan Morris; Lib Dem: Gail Coleshill; UK Independence Party: Peter Sandell; Greens: Michael Jay. |