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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| MP Michael Fabricant apologises for 'punch journalist' joke | MP Michael Fabricant apologises for 'punch journalist' joke |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Conservative MP has apologised for saying he might end up punching a journalist "in the throat" if he appeared on a discussion show with her. | |
| Michael Fabricant tweeted the remark after Yasmin Alibhai-Brown took part in a Channel 4 News debate. | |
| Ms Alibhai-Brown said she was shocked and has called on David Cameron to withdraw his party whip. | Ms Alibhai-Brown said she was shocked and has called on David Cameron to withdraw his party whip. |
| Mr Fabricant said he was wrong to joke about punching. "I, of course, withdraw and apologise," he said. | Mr Fabricant said he was wrong to joke about punching. "I, of course, withdraw and apologise," he said. |
| 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." | 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| Newspaper columnist Ms Alibhai-Brown said an apology was not enough and the Lichfield MP should have his party whip withdrawn. | Newspaper columnist Ms Alibhai-Brown said an apology was not enough and the Lichfield MP should have his party whip withdrawn.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 [nursemaid], wiping their bottoms or selling them cigarettes in the corner shop; 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. |
| 'Utterly appalling' | |
| 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." |
| In another Tweet he said: "Sorry @y_alibhai if you actually thought I would punch you. I actually don't do that sort of thing. But you are utterly infuriating! xx" | |
| He also posted a picture of himself taking part in a demonstration against domestic violence in Lichfield. | |
| 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." |
| David Cameron condemned Mr Fabricant's remarks and told LBC radio it was right he had apologised. | |
| "Let's be clear, it's a completely unacceptable thing to say and it's right that he apologised and he retracted and he apologised fully," he said. | |
| But he added: "I think further action isn't necessary, but no-one should be in any doubt that it's just not an acceptable thing to say and Michael Fabricant knows that that is my view and I don't want to see this happen again." | |
| MP Gloria De Piero, 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. | "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." | "David Cameron needs to be clear about this and set out what action he will be taking." |
| A Conservative party spokesman said: "Mr Fabricant's comments were completely unacceptable." |