Post by Mrs H on Apr 28, 2010 10:59:44 GMT -1
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8649012.stm
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been caught on microphone describing a voter he had just spoken to in Rochdale as a "bigoted woman".
The 65-year-old woman had challenged Mr Brown on a number of issues including immigration, crime and the economy during the exchange.
As he got into his car, he was still wearing a broadcast microphone and was heard to say "that was a disaster".
It comes after Labour vowed for him to meet more ordinary voters.
The comments were made after speaking to Gillian Duffy, with Mr Brown not realising that he had a Sky News microphone pinned to his shirt.
He told an aide: "That was a disaster - they should never have put me with that woman. Whose idea was that? It's just ridiculous..."
Asked what she had said, he is heard to reply: "Ugh everything! She's just a sort of bigoted woman that said she used to be Labour. I mean it's just ridiculous. I don't know why Sue brought her up towards me."
Mrs Duffy, a widow, said after being told about Mr Brown's comments: "I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet but if that's what he said I'm very upset. I'm very annoyed."
She called for an apology, saying she wanted to know why he had "come out with words like that".
She had earlier told reporters she was a lifelong Labour voter and described Mr Brown as being "very nice."
BBC News Channel chief political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said this was "extremely embarrassing" for the Labour Party. Their tactic of putting him in contact with more "ordinary people" had "gone quite horribly wrong".
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been caught on microphone describing a voter he had just spoken to in Rochdale as a "bigoted woman".
The 65-year-old woman had challenged Mr Brown on a number of issues including immigration, crime and the economy during the exchange.
As he got into his car, he was still wearing a broadcast microphone and was heard to say "that was a disaster".
It comes after Labour vowed for him to meet more ordinary voters.
The comments were made after speaking to Gillian Duffy, with Mr Brown not realising that he had a Sky News microphone pinned to his shirt.
He told an aide: "That was a disaster - they should never have put me with that woman. Whose idea was that? It's just ridiculous..."
Asked what she had said, he is heard to reply: "Ugh everything! She's just a sort of bigoted woman that said she used to be Labour. I mean it's just ridiculous. I don't know why Sue brought her up towards me."
Mrs Duffy, a widow, said after being told about Mr Brown's comments: "I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet but if that's what he said I'm very upset. I'm very annoyed."
She called for an apology, saying she wanted to know why he had "come out with words like that".
She had earlier told reporters she was a lifelong Labour voter and described Mr Brown as being "very nice."
BBC News Channel chief political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said this was "extremely embarrassing" for the Labour Party. Their tactic of putting him in contact with more "ordinary people" had "gone quite horribly wrong".
Forever without exception. x
