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MP Michael Fabricant says he could 'punch journalist' MP Michael Fabricant apologises for 'punch journalist' joke
(35 minutes later)
A Conservative MP has said he might end up punching a journalist "in the throat" if he appeared on a panel show with her. A Conservative MP has apologised for saying he might end up punching a journalist "in the throat" if he appeared on a panel show with her.
Michael Fabricant tweeted the remark after Yasmin Alibhai-Brown took part in a Channel 4 News discussion.Michael Fabricant tweeted the remark after Yasmin Alibhai-Brown took part in a Channel 4 News discussion.
The tweet said: "I could never appear on a discussion prog with @y_alibhai I would either end up with a brain haemorrhage or by punching her in the throat." Ms Alibhai-Brown said she was shocked and has called on David Cameron to withdraw his party whip.
He has now apologised for the comment. Mr Fabricant said he was wrong to joke about punching. "I of course withdraw and apologise," he said.
Newspaper columnist Ms Alibhai-Brown said she was shocked an elected MP felt able to suggest violence to a woman and called on David Cameron to take disciplinary action. The tweet said: "I could never appear on a discussion prog with @y_alibhai I would either end up with a brain haemorrhage or by punching her in the throat."
Newspaper columnist Ms Alibhai-Brown said an apology was not enough and said the Lichfield MP should have his party whip withdrawn.
"The Tories can't bear people like me," she said."The Tories can't bear people like me," she said.
"They expect people like me to be their ayah wiping their bottoms or selling them cigarettes in the cornershop; this idea of a nursing maid looking after their children. "They expect people like me to be their ayah [nurse maid] wiping their bottoms or selling them cigarettes in the cornershop; this idea of a nursing maid looking after their children.
"They cannot accept we are confident.""They cannot accept we are confident."
Ms Alibhai-Brown took part in a Channel Four news debate with Spectator columnist Rod Liddle on Thursday night.Ms Alibhai-Brown took part in a Channel Four news debate with Spectator columnist Rod Liddle on Thursday night.
Lichfield MP Mr Fabricant later took to Twitter to say sorry for his remark. Mr Fabricant later took to Twitter to say sorry for his remark.
He said: "If anyone believes I would seriously threaten someone with violence, I of course withdraw and apologise."He said: "If anyone believes I would seriously threaten someone with violence, I of course withdraw and apologise."
'Utterly appalling'
The former Tory whip was sacked as a vice-chairman of the Conservative Party after he criticised the HS2 rail scheme and made online comments about the Maria Miller expenses row.The former Tory whip was sacked as a vice-chairman of the Conservative Party after he criticised the HS2 rail scheme and made online comments about the Maria Miller expenses row.
On that occasion he tweeted: "Maria Miller has resigned. Well, about time."On that occasion he tweeted: "Maria Miller has resigned. Well, about time."
MP Gloria De Piero MP, Labour's Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, described the tweet as "utterly appalling".
"It is unacceptable that views like this persist in the Conservative Party," she said.
"David Cameron needs to be clear about this and set out what action he will be taking."
Meanwhile, councillor Chris Worsey, the Labour candidate for Lichfield, also condemned the comment and said: "He appears to be advocating violence towards women."
A Conservative party spokesman said: "Mr Fabricant's comments were completely unacceptable, in poor taste and he should immediately apologise."