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Labour MP Jack Dromey warned by party over 'Pikey' tweet Labour MP Jack Dromey under fire over 'Pikey' tweet
(about 2 hours later)
The Labour Party has warned MP Jack Dromey about using potentially "offensive" language after he referred to someone as "the Pikey" on Twitter. MP Jack Dromey should not have used the potentially offensive word "Pikey" in a Twitter message but it was an "innocent mistake", Labour sources have said.
The shadow minister tweeted a picture of himself with a postal worker.The shadow minister tweeted a picture of himself with a postal worker.
His caption said: "With Gareth Martin, the Pikey from the Erdington Royal Mail Sorting Office. A great guy!"His caption said: "With Gareth Martin, the Pikey from the Erdington Royal Mail Sorting Office. A great guy!"
Mr Dromey later tweeted that Mr Martin's nickname was a reference to Dad's Army character Corporal Pike after he faced accusations of racism. After he faced accusations of racism, Mr Dromey tweeted that Mr Martin's nickname was a reference to the Dad's Army character Pike.
A Labour source said the party had spoken to Mr Dromey earlier on Friday, after being contacted by journalists who had picked up on a growing Twitter storm about the comment. A Labour source said the party had spoken to Mr Dromey earlier on Friday after being contacted by journalists who had picked up on a growing Twitter storm about the comment.
"It was a stupid thing to do and he should not have said it," the source added, but he insisted it was "an innocent mistake"."It was a stupid thing to do and he should not have said it," the source added, but he insisted it was "an innocent mistake".
He said the MP had been referring to the Dad's Army character rather than using a derogatory term for "somebody of Romany extraction".He said the MP had been referring to the Dad's Army character rather than using a derogatory term for "somebody of Romany extraction".
Mr Dromey had agreed to issue a clarification after the potentially offensive nature of the tweet was pointed out to him.Mr Dromey had agreed to issue a clarification after the potentially offensive nature of the tweet was pointed out to him.
The second message read: "Don't panic, Mr Mainwaring. This morning's meeting was with Gareth, a Postie nicknamed after Corporal Pike from Dad's Army."The second message read: "Don't panic, Mr Mainwaring. This morning's meeting was with Gareth, a Postie nicknamed after Corporal Pike from Dad's Army."
Labour sources said the incident - not the first time Mr Dromey has landed himself in hot water over his use of social media - showed how important it was to think before tweeting, in case your words are misconstrued. Labour sources said the incident - not the first time Mr Dromey has landed himself in hot water over his use of social media - showed how important it was to think before tweeting, in case words were misconstrued.
"It is an offensive word and it just shows how everybody should be extremely careful with language on Twitter," said a spokesman."It is an offensive word and it just shows how everybody should be extremely careful with language on Twitter," said a spokesman.
Mr Dromey, a former trade union leader, is married to Labour's deputy leader and equalities spokeswoman Harriet Harman.Mr Dromey, a former trade union leader, is married to Labour's deputy leader and equalities spokeswoman Harriet Harman.
He is a shadow communities and local government minister and chairman of the all-party Parliamentary Group on Migration.He is a shadow communities and local government minister and chairman of the all-party Parliamentary Group on Migration.