READERS HAVE SAY ON SEX TEXT MP
BURTON people have been having their say after the town’s shamed sex-text MP Andrew Griffiths announced he soon intends to make a frank statement explaining his absence from Parliament.
In an exclusive statement to the Burton Mail, the married Tory father of one said this week he would be providing a “full and frank” response to explain his absence from Parliament after a national Conservative party probe into his behaviour is completed. But it comes as many of his constituents are still calling on him to resign as MP.
Back in July, our sister title the Sunday Mirror revealed how Mr Griffiths, 47, sent a series of obscene text messages to two Burton barmaids over a two-week period. He also sent barmaid Imogen Treharne and her friend, who has not been named, £700 and offered to rent a flat to meet for sex.
The Burton Mail spoke to shoppers in the town this week, with many feeling he should not stand again at the next election. Maxine Toon, 63, retired, from Swadlincote, said: “He should be sacked. He may not have broken the law but anyone else would have been sacked by now.”
Ben Owen, 24, a sales adviser from Burton, said: “I think he should not stand again out of respect. He should decide not to because it has tainted his image. Everyone in the UK knows about it, not just here. It is an embarrassment.”
Darrell MacDillen, 29, a business development manager from Burton, said: “I don’t think he should stand again, personally. If he can do that, then he cannot respect the people of Burton if he can do that to someone.”
Paul Butcher, 66, retired, from Burton, said: “Last year he actually took us for a tour around Parliament and we thought he was a good man but I have since heard about this so I don’t think he should stand again because MPs are the ones setting the rules.”
Burton Mail readers also took to our website and Facebook page to air their views. Here’s what some of them said:
A reader calling themself Sonic Youth13 claimed: “Self-interest is the only reason he wants to stand again. He should have done the decent thing and resigned. He admitted it. There’s no allegations here! He’s not fit to be an MP.”
Brian Stocks said: “How about waiting until Andrew Griffiths makes his public statement on this then everyone can decide for themselves if they wish to vote for him or not at the next general election via the ballot box should he choose to stand for re-election. However, in reality, having said that, due to all that has happened it may be better for the Conservatives to choose a totally different candidate to stand at the next election for very obvious reasons. However, whoever it is is probably going to have to fight in a very ‘dirty’ campaign which will not be based on things that matter but on the actions of Andrew Griffiths.”
Vicky Larking wrote: “He must have skin like a rhinoceros! Or it is just arrogance of monumental proportions. If he keeps his position as our MP it is scandalous. How can he represent a community who despises him?”
However, Nik Collyer denied that Mr Griffiths was despised by the entire community, saying: “I certainly don’t. What he has done does not mean he isn’t capable of doing his job still. However, people’s attitudes will make that job impossible.”
Skippy Shane said it wasn’t just Mr Griffiths to blame, saying: “Two people over the age of 18 – my word, it’s all the MP’s fault, not the woman. Both exchanged numbers and I never see her being hounded.”
Ahead of the Sunday Mirror’s revelations, Mr Griffiths stepped down as minister for small businesses. He apologised for his actions and told the Burton Mail at the time he wanted to continue as the town’s MP. He is the subject of an investigation into his conduct by the national Conservative Party, which he is currently suspended from, having referred himself.
He is also the subject of a probe by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and if it were to eventually be decided he had breached standards he could be banned from sitting in the Commons, according to the Sunday Mirror.
Mr Griffiths has applied again to the East Staffordshire Conservative Association to be its candidate for Burton at the next election. He has been approached for comment.