Home Secretary James Cleverly apologises for calling Labour politician a ‘s*** MP’ in Commons

Apology issued

Home Secretary James Cleverly has apologized after calling Labour MP Alex Cunningham a derogatory term during a heated exchange in the House of Commons. Cleverly's comment, which he referred to as "unparliamentary language," sparked controversy and led to demands for an apology.

Clarification from source

However, a source close to Cleverly clarified that the comment was directed at Cunningham as an individual and not his constituency. The source emphasized that Cleverly has campaigned in Stockton North and holds a positive view of the area.

Pressure mounts

Tory Lord Ben Houchen, the Tees Valley Mayor, called on Cleverly to apologize for the remark, which he believed had tarnished the reputation of Stockton. Despite the criticism, Lord Houchen acknowledged Cleverly's apology and described him as a good person who had made a mistake.

Confidence from Number 10

Number 10 confirmed that Chancellor Rishi Sunak still has confidence in Cleverly despite the incident.

Dispute over comment

MP Alex Cunningham alleged that Cleverly made the derogatory remark about his constituency after he raised concerns about child poverty during Prime Minister's Questions. Cunningham maintains that the audio recording of the comment supports his claim.

Cunningham's response

Cunningham expressed disbelief at Cleverly's apology and called for him to apologize directly to the people of Stockton in the House of Commons. He also questioned Cleverly's fitness for high office, stating that his colleagues who witnessed the incident believe Cleverly made the offensive comment.