A TORY MP has been slapped down by a leading broadcaster after suggesting that comments he made live on air were misrepresented.
Brendan Clarke-Smith has been told he’s “not fit to be an MP” after telling Channel 4 News he is “certainly” content to back a law-breaking Prime Minister.
During an interview on Tuesday night, presenter Cathy Newman grilled the Conservative about the latest partygate revelations, including damning photographs and testimony from Downing Street insiders.
Boris Johnson, the first sitting PM to have been found to have broken the law, is expected to come under further pressure when Sue Gray’s report is published, possibly on Wednesday.
Newman asked Clarke Smith if he is “content to back a law-breaker in office”. The Bassetlaw representative replied: “I certainly am. And I think the Prime Minister’s done many achievements so far. I think he’s still got a long time in office as well.”
Those comments were reported by Channel 4 online with the headline ’I’m certainly content backing a lawbreaker in office,’ says Tory MP”.
Yet Clark-Smith raised an objection on social media, tweeting Newman: “Not sure why your sub-editor is using quotation marks here”.
The presenter replied: “I asked if you were ‘content to back a lawbreaker in office’. You said ‘I certainly am’.”
I asked if you were “content to back a lawbreaker in office”. You said “I certainly am”. https://t.co/NHYkKbAEtd
— Cathy Newman (@cathynewman) May 24, 2022
The Conservative MP’s comment sparked criticism from opposition politicians.
Jo White, the Labour deputy leader on Bassetlaw Council, commented: “In Bassetlaw families lost loved ones whilst No 10 partied and the Bassetlaw MP puts his party loyalties first.
“Shameful, Disgraceful, Coward. Not fit to be an MP.”
No 10 is bracing for the publication of Gray’s full report into Downing Street parties in Whitehall during the coronavirus lockdown.
The senior civil servant’s report is expected to be heavily critical of the culture in No 10, which led to the repeated violations of Covid restrictions.
Potentially damaging further details, including the names of some of those who attended gatherings, are also due to be published.
Officials impacted by the Gray inquiry, including those to be named, were written to ahead of its publication, allowing them to have a chance to respond before it was finalised.
It is believed the report could be published on Wednesday, however the BBC said on Tuesday evening the senior civil servant will hand in her completed report that day, with the decision over its publication date being left up to No 10.
A Downing Street press conference is expected to be held after her findings are made public.
