MP rejects beaten rival’s ‘not at the races’ criticism
STUART PIKE
HYNDBURN’S MP has rebutted claims from her predecessor that the borough is losing out because she is “not at the races”.
Labour’s Graham Jones claims the relative inexperience of new Conservative MP Sara Britcliffe in frontline politics means Hyndburn does not have a strong voice in Parliament.
Ms Britcliffe, the 25-yearold daughter of former council leader Peter, responded that she entered the election “eyes wide open”. She has also cited “unpleasant” comments from Labour rivals, including a tweet from Hyndburn Labour’s account referencing her voting on an NHS funding settlement with the hashtag ‘ Lower than vermin’ echoing a notorious political quote from the 1940s.
Mr Jones, who held the seat for nine years, previously slammed her “childish” behaviour after she was pictured wearing a T-shirt bearing an image of his face just before Christmas. In response the new MP apologised for any offence but said people had misconstrued a secret Santa present from Labour-supporting friends after she had lost a bet.
In the wake of his election defeat Mr Jones had offered help to his successor if needed, but relations between the two appear to have soured, with a bone of contention appearing to be Mr Jones’ perception that he hasn’t received a personal apology.
He told the Observer: “I did offer to help [her] and it was genuine, but if it is about adversity and that sort of politics then it’s not for me. Don’t come to my door if that’s your attitude. I’m big enough and ugly enough to do my own thing. I’m not really bothered what the Britcliffes do, to be quite frank.”
Mr Jones added: “One of the things that Sara is finding out quite quickly is that this job consumes the day. Before you get to your ambitions you’re drowning in your work. To find time to do other thing is extremely challenging.
“We are already losing out straight away because it’s about experience and knowledge. I did 16 or 17 years in the Labour party before I became MP, of which eight were on the district council. When I went in I was starting from a low base but I had a bit of experience. I had to deal with the press and being leader of the opposition for four years. All of that gives you a good grounding. You have to deal with a range of issues. You can be as young and fresh as you want, but the reality is you’re not at the races. You don’t have any experience. I’ve already experienced that from the meetings. Sara is still finding out about the issues so she doesn’t say a lot or say anything meaningful and that’s only to be expected.
We don’t have a strong voice at the minute and we are, to a degree, losing out. We’ll have to see over time whether that changes.”
In response Ms Britcliffe said: “A quick search on social media on the comments made in public by lots of members of Hyndburn Labour, many close to Graham, shows how consistently and intensely unpleasant they have been about me during the campaign and since I got elected.”
The MP added: “Some people may have even reported this behaviour by now, but luckily, I have a thick skin. This, along with the kind of comments Graham has made in the interview, means he’s hardly doing much to create the gentler, nicer politics that his leader talks of.
“In regards to the T-shirt, I didn’t have Graham’s number so I messaged his wife and apologised and she responded to that. I apologised on social media. I apologised in the press.
We all make mistakes; I recognised I made one – it’s just time to move on.”
The MP, who was Mayoress of Hyndburn aged 22, says she knew how “allconsuming” the job would be when she stood for office, having served as a local councillor and worked alongside Conservative MPs in Lancashire.
She added: “As Graham well know but chooses not to mention, I have had to set an office up from scratch. I’ve appointed two excellent and experienced staff - one who has worked for another MP and one from the private sector.
“They were both on notice periods with their employers, but I wanted the absolute best for Hyndburn, not just who happened to be available. I received thousands of emails whilst I had no staff, but we are now working very long days to get on top of it all and we are loving every minute of it.
“I am sure that whatever I do Graham will always pick holes in. But I think it’s fair to say that Hyndburn had a strong voice when I worked with Jake Berry MP and Cllr Andrew Snowden to save the x41. Hyndburn had a strong voice when I personally met with the Chancellor to discuss what I wanted for the North in the budget, Hyndburn had a strong voice when I voted to get Brexit done - my key main manifesto promise. I have so much planned and already working on for my first year in office, I’d just ask people to judge me on what I achieve in this Parliament, not what a disgruntled former Labour MP tries to spin about me.”
A Hyndburn Labour spokesperson said: “The hashtag is from a well known political quote by Nye Bevan from the 1940s regarding the NHS. It was removed swiftly after Ms Britcliffe took offence to it. Hyndburn Labour likes to maintain high standards and we encourage people to report trolls and abuse. We believe in a kinder society and working with all for the betterment of the borough.”