A Tory peer sparked outrage after suggesting Yorkshire is a "county of leftist whingers begging for handouts" from the government in a bizarre Twitter rant.
Lord Moylan, an ex-merchant banker, former diplomat and one-time advisor to Boris Johnson, tweeted the insulting outburst on Saturday night after the Yorkshire Post reported the government's "levelling up" plans "fail to deliver" in the county.
Posting the front page of the paper's weekend edition, the former deputy leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council said: "I’m going to Yorkshire for a short break next week.
"Everything I’ve read recently in @yorkshirepost makes me fear I’m going to find it transformed into a county of leftist whingers begging for handouts.
"Let’s hope that’s not the case."
The remarks prompted an immediate backlash, with people calling the post "insulting" and "abhorrent"
Editor of the Yorkshire Post James Mitchinson accused the politician of "sneering".
He tweeted: "You'll find folks thoroughly fed up with sneering politicians who think they're better than us and an awful lot of people who cannot stand liars and charlatans.
"It isn't about right and left for us, m'Lord. It's about right and wrong. Enjoy your stay. You are most welcome."
Labour Mayor for West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin added: "Yorkshire is a great place for a holiday and I’ve no doubt Lord Moylan will enjoy his stay.
"But we’re a straight talking bunch with forthright views. I’ve no doubt people will be quite willing to share their opinions on his government’s failings with him during his visit."
The Government's levelling up plans have come in for widespread criticism in the North of England when it was published earlier this month.
It contains no new funding and 12 targets, which experts such as Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank, have said are "highly unlikely to be met" .
It comes as the Prime Minister is under increasing pressure over rule-busting parties at Downing Street.
The Met has sent the premier a legal questionnaire and he has hired a lawyer in a desperate bid to avoid a fixed penalty notice.
