A Conservative councillor says he is “absolutely disgusted” by comments Lichfield’s MP made on social media.
Michael Fabricant has drawn widespread criticism over the Twitter post referencing the arrest of an unnamed Tory MP on suspicion of rape and sexual assault.
In the now-deleted post, reference was made to a request by the Chief Whip for the accused MP to stay away from the House of Commons.
Mr Fabricant told his followers that Tory MPs would be attending to support the Prime Minister and prove they were not the individual who had been arrested – and followed it up with an emoji showing a winking face sticking its tongue out.
His post drew anger from across the political divide, with Plaid Cymru and Labour representatives criticising his words.
But the Lichfield MP said many of those who spoke out online were “professional offence takers”.
However, he has now seen a local member of his own party share their disappointment over the comments made on social media.
Cllr Richard Cox, a cabinet member at Lichfield District Council and a member of Staffordshire County Council, said:
“I’m absolutely disgusted in Michael Fabricant’s comment over the rape arrest – and I’m not over-reacting,
“I’m genuinely disgusted.”
Cllr Richard Cox
Since writing his comments on Twitter, Mr Fabricant has appeared in a television interview to admit that “in hindsight” he shouldn’t have posted it – but said he liked to use his social media account “to mix in serious politics with a little bit of humour”.
