Cleverly denies claims he called Labour MP's constituency a 's**thole' in child poverty row
James Cleverly has rejected claims he described a Labour MP's constituency as a 's**thole' during Prime Minister's Questions
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James Cleverly has rejected claims he described a Labour MP's constituency as a “s**thole” during Prime Minister's Questions.
Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockton North alleges that Cleverly uttered the comment when he asked: “Why are 34 per cent of children in my constituency living in poverty?”
Later, Cunningham raised a point of order with the deputy speaker Eleanor Laing, when he said of Cleverly: “He was seen and heard to say, ‘Because it’s a shit-hole'.”
His comment was reportedly met with gasps from fellow Labour MPs.
WATCH NOW: Alex Cunningham alleges that James Cleverly uttered the offensive comment
After calling out the home secretary, he then demanded an apology.
However, Cleverly’s spokesman said: “He did not say that, and would not. He’s disappointed people would accuse him of doing so.”
Cunningham claims he contacted Cleverly’s office to tell them he was planning to name him but the minister had “sadly” chosen not to be in the chamber.
Speaking in Parliament, Cunningham added: “I know he is denying being the culprit but, Madam Deputy Speaker, the audio is clear and has been checked and checked and checked again.
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“There is no doubt that these comments shame the Home Secretary, this rotten Government and the Tory party.”
Laing said her understanding was that the Commons speaker did not hear the comment and that the alleged words were not actually used “although I appreciate what the honourable gentleman says”.
She continued: “I think we all know it’s very difficult in the noisy atmosphere of prime minister’s questions to discern exactly what someone says.
“So I can make no judgment here from the chair as to what was said or wasn’t said, but I can understand the honourable gentleman’s concern.”
Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockton North alleges that Cleverly uttered the comment when he asked: 'Why are 34 per cent of children in my constituency living in poverty?'
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Following the incident, Cunningham condemned the alleged remarks on social media.
He wrote: “This comment shames the Home Secretary, the Government and his party and he should apologise.”
It comes just days after Cleverly refused to deny that he called Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation policy “bats***”.
He claims he “did not remember” using the "expletive” to describe the policy.