Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ANGELA: ‘SORRY’ FOR SCUM TAUNT
Labour deputy leader’s regret over language
ANGELA Rayner has apologised for her comments on Tory “scum” at the Labour Party conference.
Labour’s Deputy Leader said she had reflected on her language during a period of leave after losing a loved one.
In the wake of the killing of Tory MP Sir David Amess, Ms Rayner said she had thought hard about threats in politics.
She said: “I was angry about... policies that have made life harder for so many people I represent. But I’d like to unreservedly apologise for the language I used, and I would not use it again. I’ll continue to stand up for Labour values and hold the Government to account.
“But I’ll be more careful about how I do that and in the language I choose.”
In an informal late-night speech at last month’s conference in Brighton, she said: “We cannot get any worse than a bunch of scum, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, absolute vile... Banana Republic.”
Asked if she was talking about Tories in general, Ms Rayner said last month: “No, let me be clear, I am talking about members of the Cabinet.” In yesterday’s statement she also spoke of “terrifying” threats she has received since, saying: “They’ve had a devastating impact.”
Two men have been arrested in South Yorkshire and Halifax, West Yorks, over threatening messages to Ms Rayner.
A third, Benjamin Iliffe, 36, of Chatteris, Cambs, got a 15-week suspended sentence yesterday after pleading guilty to sending her a threatening email at Huntingdon magistrates court.
NICHOLAS Burrows, 49, was fined £400 at Grimsby magistrates court after admitting a campaign of threatening behaviour against Grimsby MP Lia Nici.