Shamed Labour MP called me ‘an ugly bitch’
Labour probes latest claims on O’Mara
I thought someone like that couldn’t be heavily involved in politics SOPHIE EVANS CONSTITUENT WHO ALLEGES O’MARA RANT
DISGRACED Labour MP Jared O’Mara has been accused of calling a constituent an “ugly bitch” just months before he was elected.
The allegations yesterday came after he quit the Commons Women and Equalities Committee on Monday in a row over homophobic and sexist comments he made online 15 years ago.
Last night Labour launched a probe into the claims by Sophie Evans, a voter in Sheffield Hallam where Mr O’Mara, 35, unseated ex-Lib Dem chief Nick Clegg in June’s general election.
She told BBC2’s Daily Politics show that some of the remarks allegedly made by Mr O’Mara in March this year “aren’t broadcastable”. She added: “There were some transphobic slurs, but he called me an ugly bitch. I thought, ‘Wow, he’s not a very nice man’ and forgot about it.
“I knew he was involved in politics but I had no idea he was running for MP. I thought someone like that couldn’t possibly be that heavily involved.”
Her claims came after Mr O’Mara insisted he had changed his ways following the scandal over online posts he made in 2002 when he was in his 20s.
But Ms Evans said: “Fair enough for him to have said that about 15 years ago, but he won’t even acknowledge something that happened seven months ago.”
Mr O’Mara’s spokesman said he “categorically denies the latest allegations”.
It came after newly revealed web posts from the early 2000s show Mr O’Mara made derogatory remarks about the Spanish and Danes, in addition to the previously revealed comments.
Those included calling gay people “fudge packers” and “plotters” on a forum dedicated to singer Morrissey.
He also apologised for comments suggesting jazz musician Jamie Cullum should be raped to death with his own piano, that he would like to have an orgy with Girls Aloud, and that singer Michelle McManus only won the 2003 series of Pop Idol “because she was fat”.
O’Mara, who was born with cerebral palsy, had also complained gay people “think they have the monopoly on being subject to abuse – they should try being ginger and disabled”.
The posts were made two years before he first stood as a Labour candidate in local elections – but it is the latest claim that is being investigated by Labour. Leader Jeremy Corbyn faced mounting calls to strip the party whip from the MP. Equalities Minister Justine Greening urged the Labour leader to “step up” and “send a message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated”. She said: “Violent, sexist and homophobic language must have no place in our society, and parliamentarians of all parties have a duty to stamp out this sort of behaviour... and condemn it in the strongest possible terms. Will you be removing the whip from him while the investigation is carried out?” Sanctions available include suspending or permanently removing the Labour whip from Mr O’Mara, meaning he would sit as an independent MP. But he could still vote and sit with Labour MPs. A temporary suspension is more likely than being kicked out of the party.