Disgraced minister must quit Parliament, says MP
THE Staffordshire MP who resigned as a minister after sending a series of X-rated text messages has been urged to quit as an MP.
Married Conservative Andrew Griffiths resigned as the small business minister after it emerged he sent the messages to two barmaids.
But he should also stand down from his role as MP for Burton in Staffordshire, according to Birmingham MP Jess Phillips.
“If I was his constituent and I needed help, I wouldn’t feel safe going to him,” she said.
Mr Griffiths sent barmaid Imogen Treharne and a friend more than 2,000 messages crudely detailing violent sex acts and pleading for explicit images, the Sunday Mirror revealed.
In a number of the texts, Mr Griffiths called himself “Daddy” and promised the girls money if he received intimate images.
He also described sex he claimed to have had with other women.
“I’m going to need something filthy to put a smile on my face. I want to see you both naked,” he told them.
Another message read: “I’m thinking maybe we need a flat for Daddy’s girls. I’m taken by you both. You girls are spectacular.”
Most of the messages are shocking to publish in the Post.
Ms Phillips, Labour MP for Yardley, said: “If I had a problem, such as domestic violence or sexual abuse, I wouldn’t feel comfortable going to speak to Andrew Griffiths.
“I handle cases like that as an MP every day, so I know it’s something people go to their MPs about.
“The content that has been revealed is alarmingly controlling of too women, disrespectful and violence against women.
“All of the content is fairly degrading. If this contest was racist then, quite rightly, the Conservatives would have removed the whip.”
Mr Burton has apologised for his behaviour.
He said he was deeply ashamed and would be “seeking help”.
He struck up a friendship with the girls on social media before bombarding them with thousands of messages every day for three weeks.
He claimed he was thinking about fetishes the girls as he drank champagne with Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
“I am deeply ashamed at my behaviour which has caused untold distress to my wife and family, to whom I owe everything, and deep embarrassment to the Prime Minister and the Government I am so proud to serve,” he said at the weekend.
“I do not seek to excuse my behaviour and will be seeking professional help to ensure it never happens again,” he added.
If I had a problem, such as domestic violence or sexual abuse, I wouldn’t feel comfortable going to speak to Andrew Griffiths Birmingham MP Jess Phillips