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| Tory candidate for Eastleigh byelection denies immigration remarks | Tory candidate for Eastleigh byelection denies immigration remarks |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The newly anointed Conservative candidate for the Eastleigh byelection has had to deny making potentially damaging remarks about immigration and gay people. | The newly anointed Conservative candidate for the Eastleigh byelection has had to deny making potentially damaging remarks about immigration and gay people. |
| On the first day of her campaign, Maria Hutchings was asked about one interview in which she was quoted as saying she did not care about refugees and another in which she allegedly claimed that Labour had done more for "the immigrants, the gays, the bloody foxes" than for children with special needs. She claimed she had been misquoted. | On the first day of her campaign, Maria Hutchings was asked about one interview in which she was quoted as saying she did not care about refugees and another in which she allegedly claimed that Labour had done more for "the immigrants, the gays, the bloody foxes" than for children with special needs. She claimed she had been misquoted. |
| The candidate said she would have voted against gay marriage, was "pro-life" and would vote to leave the EU if there was an immediate referendum. | The candidate said she would have voted against gay marriage, was "pro-life" and would vote to leave the EU if there was an immediate referendum. |
| Hutchings, a mother-of-four, also declared that she was not a "rich Tory toff" and said she once had to borrow £1.80 to pay for parking from members of a job club she ran because the cash machine would not give her any money. | Hutchings, a mother-of-four, also declared that she was not a "rich Tory toff" and said she once had to borrow £1.80 to pay for parking from members of a job club she ran because the cash machine would not give her any money. |
| Launching her campaign, she also said she would be fighting the Liberal Democrats' plans to build new housing on "green spaces", which could go against government policy. | |
| But the most awkward moments for Hutchings came when she was asked about interviews she gave to the Daily Mail eight years ago. | But the most awkward moments for Hutchings came when she was asked about interviews she gave to the Daily Mail eight years ago. |
| Hutchings, who has a son with autism, hit the headlines during the 2005 general election after confronting Tony Blair about education for children with special needs. | Hutchings, who has a son with autism, hit the headlines during the 2005 general election after confronting Tony Blair about education for children with special needs. |
| She was interviewed twice by the Daily Mail. In one she is quoted as saying: "I don't care about refugees." In another she allegedly said: "It is the minority groups that have benefited from Labour's time in office - the immigrants, the gays, the bloody foxes. In fact, it's ironic that special needs children seem to be the only minority group that haven't got something out of this administration." | She was interviewed twice by the Daily Mail. In one she is quoted as saying: "I don't care about refugees." In another she allegedly said: "It is the minority groups that have benefited from Labour's time in office - the immigrants, the gays, the bloody foxes. In fact, it's ironic that special needs children seem to be the only minority group that haven't got something out of this administration." |
| Of the first interview, Hutchings said: "What I said was I don't care about talking about asylum seekers because I'm here to talk about my son." Of the second she said: "I've never said anything about gays or bloody foxes. I've said nothing about gays and foxes and I don't know where that's come from." | Of the first interview, Hutchings said: "What I said was I don't care about talking about asylum seekers because I'm here to talk about my son." Of the second she said: "I've never said anything about gays or bloody foxes. I've said nothing about gays and foxes and I don't know where that's come from." |
| Hutchings said she would be running a "clean campaign", adding: "I want to talk about the issues that affect the people of Eastleigh." | Hutchings said she would be running a "clean campaign", adding: "I want to talk about the issues that affect the people of Eastleigh." |
| She said she did not want to discuss Chris Huhne, whose disgrace has led to the byelection. "That issue is in the past," she said. | She said she did not want to discuss Chris Huhne, whose disgrace has led to the byelection. "That issue is in the past," she said. |
| The Tories are the first party to select their candidate for the seat, with the Lib Dems expected to announce their choice over the weekend. | The Tories are the first party to select their candidate for the seat, with the Lib Dems expected to announce their choice over the weekend. |
| The poll is expected to be a close fight between the coalition partners. | The poll is expected to be a close fight between the coalition partners. |
| The Lib Dem majority at the 2010 general election was 3,864. | The Lib Dem majority at the 2010 general election was 3,864. |