A government minister has been accused of showing “absolute contempt for voters” after appearing to suggest that Blackpool and Birmingham are “demonized”.
Conservative MP Heather Wheeler, who is no stranger to a false vocal step, made the comment on Thursday in London as she tried to remember where she had recently visited.
According to tech journalist Chris Middleton, the junior minister said, “I was just at a conference in Blackpool or Birmingham or somewhere great.”
Ms Wheeler has apologized for the “inappropriate comment” which she says “does not reflect my actual opinion”.
The comment has angered South Derbyshire MPs as expected, with Labor MP Angela Rayner saying “disrespect is out of the question”.
“The mask has slipped,” he added.
“This minister has set out what Boris Johnson ‘s Conservatives really think about our gated communities.
“Heather Wheeler has shown utter contempt for voters.”
Mrs Wheeler’s South Derbyshire constituency in South Derbyshire is less than 40 miles from Birmingham.
In a tweet on Saturday morning, he said: “While speaking at a conference on Thursday, I made an inappropriate comment that does not reflect my actual opinion.
“I apologize for any wrongdoing.”