HOME SECRETARY James Cleverly has been forced to apologise after calling a Labour MP “s***” in the Commons.
The Cabinet minister had been under pressure to say sorry after claims he had described Alex Cunningham’s Stockton North constituency as a “s***hole” on Wednesday.
Home Secretary James Cleverly apologised for using “unparliamentary language”
But a source close to the Home Secretary said his fiery remark had been directed towards the MP, rather than the constituency.
The source said: “James made a comment. He called Alex Cunningham a s*** MP. He apologises for unparliamentary language.
“As was made clear yesterday, he would never criticise Stockton. He’s campaigned in Stockton and is clear that it is a great place.”
Pressure on the Home Secretary to apologise over the Stockton remark started piling in after fellow Tory Lord Ben Houchen, the Tees Valley Mayor, called on him to say sorry.
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But Lord Houchen welcomed the apology writing on social media: “Whatever was said, the speculation dragged Stockton’s name through the mud, which is unacceptable.
“We’re all human & he’s a good guy who made a mistake.”
Number 10 said Rishi Sunak continues to have confidence in the Home Secretary.
Mr Cunningham alleged the remark against his constituency was hurled after he challenged Rishi Sunak over the level of child poverty in his seat at Prime Minister’s Questions.
The MP said the audio of the comment was “clear and has been checked and checked and checked again”.
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Speaking after the apology, Mr Cunningham told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “I simply don’t believe him.”
He insisted Mr Cleverly should come to the Commons and apologise to the people of Stockton.
Asked if he believed the Home Secretary was lying about the words he had used, the MP told the programme: “My colleagues who actually saw the mouth move and hear the words come out, they believe he said that particular expression, and on that basis I don’t think he is a person fit for such high office and he really needs to consider what he is going to do about it.”
Evening GazetteLabour MP Alex Cunningham (Stockton North)[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
