The Labour Party has said Thérèse Coffey is not
fit to be DWP Secretary after she told LBC that she would vote
for the Conservative candidate in Gower who wrote
that people on Benefits
Street needed “putting down”.
Asked whether she would vote for Francesca O’Brien,
Coffey replied: "Yes, I absolutely would.”
Speaking on Politics Live, columnist and senior
Conservative Daniel Finkelstein said O'Brien should "consider her
position".
, Labour’s Shadow
Secretary of State for Employment Rights, said:
“Thérèse Coffey is not fit to be DWP
Secretary and the Conservative candidate for Gower is not fit to
be an MP.
“It is shocking that the Conservatives’ benefits chief has
endorsed someone who would talk about people on social security
in such a disgusting way. This is the person in charge of
the roll-out of Universal Credit.
“The Tories' cruel benefits regime has pushed families
and children into poverty. And it is no wonder,
when Boris Johnson’s party has such contempt for the less
well off.”
Ends
Note to Editors:
· Transcript
of Thérèse Coffey speaking to Nick Ferrari on LBC this
morning:
NF: Why is she still representing the Conservative
Party?
TC: Well I understand she said it about five and a half
years ago, she's apologised for those comments, and it's up to
the voters in Gower who they want to be her MP?
NF: Would you vote for her?
TC: In the next election? Yes I absolutely
would.
NF: Oh good Lord.
TC: Francesca is somebody...
NF: Somebody who wants to put down those
on... On the one hand, Thérèse Coffey, I'm
hearing how you and your colleagues are doing all you can for
these folk, on the other hand you'd vote for someone who not that
long ago said they need putting down.
· Francesca
O’Brien, Conservative Parliamentary candidate in Gower, wrote on
social media that she believed people on the reality TV show
Benefits Street needed “putting down”. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/03/tory-candidate-francesca-obrien-wrote-people-benefits-street-should-be-put-down
