Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant has been put in the stocks as punishment for sparking a war of words with Tamworth.
The row began when the Conservative MP made a radio appearance and compared his own constituency with the neighbouring area.
He said: “We have got lovely little shops, we have got a beautiful cathedral. I don’t want to upset everybody in Tamworth, but, you know, apart from the SnowDome and the John Lewis why would you go to Tamworth?”
His comments led to a rebuke by Tamworth Borough Council’s leader Daniel Cook, who said “many residents” had contacted him to complain.
“This has led to quite a lot of comments and anger amongst Tamworth residents who are rightly proud of their community and historic borough,” Cllr Cook said in an official letter to Mr Fabricant.
“It comes at a time when a lot of Tamworth residents are deeply worried about Lichfield’s opinion of Tamworth, certainly around house building on our borders.
“Yes, comments have come out of Tamworth, from both residents and councillors in a negative way towards Lichfield District Council, but never the place of Lichfield and certainly not the people.”
But it was Tamworth that had the last laugh as they put Mr Fabricant in the stocks for his ‘crime’.
“Honour was done for my teasing of Tamworth on national radio,” the Conservative MP said. “Afterwards I was given a wonderful tour of Tamworth Castle – well worth a visit – the Town Hall from where Robert Peel gave his Tamworth Manifesto, and the St Editha Church.”
