Sussex MP 'sacks' constituent in speech to House of Commons (From The Argus)
Get involved: Send your news, views, pictures and video by texting SUPIC to 80360 or email us.
Sussex MP 'sacks' constituent in speech to House of Commons
11:30am Friday 15th March 2013 in News By Neil Vowles
East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton making his speech in the House of Commons
An MP “sacked” a constituent and criticised the Chief Constable of Sussex Police in an extraordinary speech in Parliament.
In a twenty-minute prepared speech in the House of Commons, the East Worthing and Shoreham MP delivered an outspoken summary of his long-running feud with constituent Kieran Francis and the police investigation into his alleged racist abuse.
Conservative Mr Loughton was questioned by Sussex Police for 90 minutes after sending an email to Mr Francis, who is of Romany gypsy descent, in which he described him as “unkempt”.
In Parliament on Wednesday night (March 13), the former Children's Minister said he would be making a formal complaint about Sussex Police's handling of the case and singled out Chief Constable Martin Richards for criticism.
Watch the recording of Mr Loughton's speech here: www.theargus.co.uk/news/special/loughtondebate
Mr Francis told The Argus that Mr Loughton's account was an abuse of his position and a waste of parliamentary time to settle a personal dispute.
He described Mr Loughton's account as “full of lies” and said the MP has misused his parliamentary privilege to make accusations he as a constituent would not be able to make.
Mr Loughton said the case could have been “terminated” after he had helped police with their initial inquiries.
Instead a six-month investigation was held before the Crown Prosecution Service decided last month the charges would be dropped.
Mr Loughton said: “Without going into detail about that confidential meeting, I was treated by Chief Constable Martin Richards not only as if I was the subject of ongoing criminal investigations, but almost as if I had actually been charged and found guilty.
“It was as if 'plebgate' runs well beyond the confines of Whitehall.”
Putting the phone down
Later on in the speech, the MP said he would not be responding to any communications from Mr Francis in the future and his staff had been instructed to put the phone down on him.
He added: “I am sacking Mr Francis as my constituent, and I hope that he gets the message without my having to resort to legal means.”
Mr Francis, of Stoney Lane in Shoreham, said: “If he thinks he can sack me then he clearly doesn't believe he is a public servant, it shows the arrogance of him.
“What representation in Parliament do I get now I've been sacked, can I go up and represent myself?”
See the latest news headlines from The Argus:
- Brighton and Hove Albion players on trial for sex assault - day ten
- Fringe Magician predicts Argus front page
- Pals in Brighton lose hair to raise charity cash
- Rock and roll achievements for Brighton school
- Make a date with Olov
Add us to your circles on Google+
Comments(23)
Andy R
says...
11:52am Fri 15 Mar 13
Crystal Ball
says...
11:53am Fri 15 Mar 13
rolivan wrote:So much for MPs serving the people. What a complete and utter Richard the Third.
I went to a meeting He attended and when it finished went up to introduce Myself and ask Him a question but before I even had a chance to say anything he said "Not You again" Arrogant piece of work
Isaac Rinkfern
says...
11:55am Fri 15 Mar 13
Hes he seen the website "they work for you"? obviously not and to use the word feud seems a little extreme, Loughton doesn't spend that much time with local residents in order to constitute a feud.
Two personal meetings and 3 letters over 7 years does not a feud make.
doggle
says...
12:10pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Kiddon72
says...
12:21pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Even if he viewed Mr Francis as "difficult" he cannot just "sack him" when the going gets awkward.
Regardless of whatever party he represents Mr Loughton is clearly not the person for his role and should stand down if he feels unable to represent all his constituents, whether he finds them agreable or not.
Cave Johnson
says...
12:48pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Isaac Rinkfern
says...
1:00pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Cave Johnson wrote:If someone reports a crime, then it's not down to them how much it costs, especially if the costs and delays are caused by the person being investigated.
Bit rich of Francis to claim the MP is wasting time and money etc when HE wasted police time and money in the first place. Sounds like he has a massive chip on his shoulder.
As for chips on shoulders, Loughton is the one pushing for press coverage and media attention by ignoring Parliamentary conventions and abusing Parliamentary privilege, there are your chips.
AlanPare
says...
1:17pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Isaac Rinkfern wrote:I have no doubt that Loughton is your usual arrogant Tory, but Francis reported him as racist for calling Francis "unkempt". Chip on the shoulder sounds about right to me.
Cave Johnson wrote:If someone reports a crime, then it's not down to them how much it costs, especially if the costs and delays are caused by the person being investigated.
Bit rich of Francis to claim the MP is wasting time and money etc when HE wasted police time and money in the first place. Sounds like he has a massive chip on his shoulder.
As for chips on shoulders, Loughton is the one pushing for press coverage and media attention by ignoring Parliamentary conventions and abusing Parliamentary privilege, there are your chips.
Isaac Rinkfern
says...
1:24pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Loughton has spun this story in order to claim that it is somehow spurious when in fact his responding to a polite email with a tirade of abuse of various natures, was the driving force behind his little chat with the Police. He just chooses to remove the other factors from the story that HE approached the media with.
Plunge
says...
1:44pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Isaac Rinkfern
says...
2:18pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Isn't it a little ironic that since his acquittal, he has complained to the Mail, the Telegraph, the Chief Constable, the Commissioner, the House of Commons, several radio stations, some more newspapers and now he intends to make another complaint to Sussex Police.
Isn't it about time someone told HIM that they are fed up with his "whinging, self-serving poisonous Bo****ks"?
Hoarder12345444
says...
2:19pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Cave Johnson
says...
3:58pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Isaac Rinkfern wrote:Calling someone unkempt isn't a crime.
Cave Johnson wrote: Bit rich of Francis to claim the MP is wasting time and money etc when HE wasted police time and money in the first place. Sounds like he has a massive chip on his shoulder.If someone reports a crime, then it's not down to them how much it costs, especially if the costs and delays are caused by the person being investigated. As for chips on shoulders, Loughton is the one pushing for press coverage and media attention by ignoring Parliamentary conventions and abusing Parliamentary privilege, there are your chips.
Isaac Rinkfern
says...
5:34pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Cave Johnson wrote:Maybe in itself, not. But as the majority of press coverage has come straight from Loughton, it is unlikely that anyone actually knows the true reasons behind the police investigations, because neither myself or the police have publically revealed the full detail.
Isaac Rinkfern wrote:Calling someone unkempt isn't a crime.
Cave Johnson wrote: Bit rich of Francis to claim the MP is wasting time and money etc when HE wasted police time and money in the first place. Sounds like he has a massive chip on his shoulder.If someone reports a crime, then it's not down to them how much it costs, especially if the costs and delays are caused by the person being investigated. As for chips on shoulders, Loughton is the one pushing for press coverage and media attention by ignoring Parliamentary conventions and abusing Parliamentary privilege, there are your chips.
Sudseax
says...
6:12pm Fri 15 Mar 13
whereisthe...?
says...
12:30am Sat 16 Mar 13
Anyone who supports these nasty sad little men are just as bad. All the facts are out now, no-one can claim ignorance.
High Wire
says...
3:36am Sat 16 Mar 13
whereisthe...? wrote:Why is he "a racist"? If you we're described as unkempt would you instantly assume it was linked to your race?
Typical TORY nutcase, abusing his position, a racist, and rude.
Anyone who supports these nasty sad little men are just as bad. All the facts are out now, no-one can claim ignorance.
I think a small amount of Googling on your part might reveal that there's more than just a bit of provocation surrounding this case...
Somethingsarejustwrong
says...
8:27am Sat 16 Mar 13
High Wire wrote:Agree entirely. The left wing types again are clutching at straws...after all they have plenty of time on their hands to do so!
whereisthe...? wrote:Why is he "a racist"? If you we're described as unkempt would you instantly assume it was linked to your race?
Typical TORY nutcase, abusing his position, a racist, and rude.
Anyone who supports these nasty sad little men are just as bad. All the facts are out now, no-one can claim ignorance.
I think a small amount of Googling on your part might reveal that there's more than just a bit of provocation surrounding this case...
gmgc81
says...
11:02am Sat 16 Mar 13
Sudseax wrote:I wish the people of East Worthing & Shoreham would do the right thing and vote for another party than keep Loughton in. He sounds arrogant, rude, and given in this case unwilling to do his job. But I forgot, he's a typical Tory.
There's a pattern here; Loughton going to extraordinary lengths to denigrate a constituent; Christopher Chope calling House of Commons staff "servants"; Andrew Mitchell (allegedly) calling police "plebs". All Tories; all assuming an unpleasant air of superiority.
Somethingsarejustwrong
says...
12:10pm Sat 16 Mar 13
gmgc81 wrote:Yes quite unusual to have people who want to make a positive difference at the rudder and once the Lib Dems are ousted a proper Tory regime will cut loose all the workshy benefit grabbers from the gravy train.
Sudseax wrote:I wish the people of East Worthing & Shoreham would do the right thing and vote for another party than keep Loughton in. He sounds arrogant, rude, and given in this case unwilling to do his job. But I forgot, he's a typical Tory.
There's a pattern here; Loughton going to extraordinary lengths to denigrate a constituent; Christopher Chope calling House of Commons staff "servants"; Andrew Mitchell (allegedly) calling police "plebs". All Tories; all assuming an unpleasant air of superiority.
Bring it on!
TrevorA
says...
2:39pm Sat 16 Mar 13
Isaac Rinkfern
says...
3:06pm Sat 13 Apr 13
Jakob1 wrote:Another typical Loughtonite, talks complete tripe and tries to defeat his detractors by making up stories and lies.
You must be so naive if you don't realise that Isaak rinkfern is Keiran Francis. Of course he will complain about abuse, claim someone is racist, homophobic, or upsetting his claimed Romany heritage. But how about him telling you the heroes he would like to meet? Hitler, Pohl Pott, Stalin, Mussolini. Yes they were reknowned for free speech and tolerant behaviour.....NOT.
You seem very happy to identify myself, something which I have never attempted to hide, but you are never likely to reveal yourself, unless it's outside a school.
rolivan says...
11:41am Fri 15 Mar 13