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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Big Brother's Shilpa to thank PM | Big Brother's Shilpa to thank PM |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Big Brother's Shilpa Shetty is to thank Tony Blair for his support during her visit to London's House of Commons. | Big Brother's Shilpa Shetty is to thank Tony Blair for his support during her visit to London's House of Commons. |
| The Bollywood actress watched prime minister's questions and is expected to meet him briefly afterwards. | The Bollywood actress watched prime minister's questions and is expected to meet him briefly afterwards. |
| Ms Shetty is visiting Parliament in the wake of a media storm about alleged racist bullying on the show. | Ms Shetty is visiting Parliament in the wake of a media storm about alleged racist bullying on the show. |
| She said it would be a great honour to meet Mr Blair, adding: "I want to thank him for his solidarity and his support towards me and my country." | She said it would be a great honour to meet Mr Blair, adding: "I want to thank him for his solidarity and his support towards me and my country." |
| Labour MP Keith Vaz, who tabled a Commons motion criticising the show, invited Ms Shetty to visit. | Labour MP Keith Vaz, who tabled a Commons motion criticising the show, invited Ms Shetty to visit. |
| Arriving at Parliament with her mother she was greeted by a media scrum, including 23 reporters from India, and the chimes of Big Ben. | Arriving at Parliament with her mother she was greeted by a media scrum, including 23 reporters from India, and the chimes of Big Ben. |
| I am delighted Shilpa accepted my invitation. I know she will get a very warm reception Keith Vaz Brown seeks to calm row MPs enter Big Brother row | I am delighted Shilpa accepted my invitation. I know she will get a very warm reception Keith Vaz Brown seeks to calm row MPs enter Big Brother row |
| Later she will have lunch with Home Secretary John Reid, Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain, Conservative MP Ed Vaisey, and Lib Dem Sarah Teather | Later she will have lunch with Home Secretary John Reid, Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain, Conservative MP Ed Vaisey, and Lib Dem Sarah Teather |
| Her treatment on the show prompted an international furore, dominating media coverage of Gordon Brown's India trip. | Her treatment on the show prompted an international furore, dominating media coverage of Gordon Brown's India trip. |
| Ms Shetty herself has said she did not think her fellow contestants were racist, although she agreed she had been bullied. | Ms Shetty herself has said she did not think her fellow contestants were racist, although she agreed she had been bullied. |
| But there were more than 40,000 complaints to Ofcom about her treatment and the chancellor was forced to make public statements about it during a visit to India. | But there were more than 40,000 complaints to Ofcom about her treatment and the chancellor was forced to make public statements about it during a visit to India. |
| Mr Vaz raised the issue of Ms Shetty's treatment in an Early Day Motion and at Prime Minister's Questions, calling on Channel 4 bosses to take "effective action" against "unacceptable" language. | Mr Vaz raised the issue of Ms Shetty's treatment in an Early Day Motion and at Prime Minister's Questions, calling on Channel 4 bosses to take "effective action" against "unacceptable" language. |
| The PM wouldn't want to try his hand in another 'House', would he? BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full | |
| Mr Vaz said: "I am delighted Shilpa accepted my invitation. I know she will get a very warm reception." | Mr Vaz said: "I am delighted Shilpa accepted my invitation. I know she will get a very warm reception." |
| "MPs will be pleased to hear about all the excellent charitable works she is supporting in order to combat Aids in India." | "MPs will be pleased to hear about all the excellent charitable works she is supporting in order to combat Aids in India." |
| The actress will visit Leicester later, where Mr Vaz is MP, to launch a charitable foundation and meet fans at a community centre. | The actress will visit Leicester later, where Mr Vaz is MP, to launch a charitable foundation and meet fans at a community centre. |