Labour MP refuses to apologise for calling Pfizer 'rapists'

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/14/labour-mp-refuses-apologise-pfizer-rapists

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The Labour MP Austin Mitchell has refused to apologise for likening the US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to "rapists" over its controversial takeover of AstraZeneca.

Mitchell sparked outrage with a post on Twitter criticising David Cameron for refusing to block the proposed takeover. He wrote to his 3,589 followers: "Cameron dare not stop Pfizer because he dare not offend the US in any way. Roll up rapists."

The remark prompted the Tory MP Nicky Morgan, the minister for women, to call on Ed Miliband to suspend the veteran MP for Great Grimsby from the Labour party.

Mitchell, an MP since 1977, responded to the outcry by tweeting: "Naughty me. Substute [sic] rapaciousness before any more Physer [sic] defenders weigh in."

Speaking to the Guardian, Mitchell said he "should have used the word rapaciousness" instead of "rapists" but declined to apologise.

"If it needs explanation, I should have used the word rapaciousness," he said.

"If I said we should not allow the company [AstraZeneca] to be taken over, people fired, research jettisoned, I would have gone over the 140 characters that Twitter allows.

He added: "It's difficult to use in one small word the disembodying of a company, the jettisoning of its research. I don't know what you would call that. Perhaps I should have done a more detailed comment."

However, he said it was "crazy" that politicians were calling for him to be dismissed.

Mitchell said: "I'm not going to apologise, don't be silly. What about people who talk about the rape of the countryside – do they have to apologise?"

Morgan, the Loughborough MP appointed in April as minister for women, wrote to Miliband to urge him to discipline Mitchell.

She wrote: "People across the whole country will be appalled that anybody would try to link a proposed corporate takeover with the horrific crime of rape. I am sure you will agree with me that such a comparison is deeply offensive as it trivialises sex attacks and the horrific and traumatising effects such attacks can have on victims.

"I am clear that these comments are totally unacceptable and that Austin Mitchell must withdraw what he has written immediately and issue a full, unreserved apology.

"As the leader of the Labour party I look forward to hearing what action you intend to take in response to this totally unacceptable behaviour."

On Twitter, the Tory whip Claire Perry joined the outcry, demanding the MP "apologise profusely". "A disgraceful mistake as is the deafening silence from Labour," she wrote.

Another Tory whip, Harriet Baldwin, also weighed in with a call for his suspension. "Thoroughly offensive tweet about rapists and USA," she wrote. "I call on Ed Miliband to withdraw the Labour whip."

Mitchell announced last month that he was quitting the Commons at the 2015 election after 38 years as an MP. The former TV presenter said it was time to step aside as he was approaching his 80th birthday.

He is no stranger to controversy on Twitter, previously facing criticism for telling the former Tory MP Louise Mensch that "a good wife doesn't disagree with her master in public" after she posted comments about her husband.

A Labour spokesman said Mitchell had apologised to the Labour chief whip Rosie Winterton.

"The chief whip has made clear to Austin Mitchell this tweet was unacceptable. He has now apologised for what was an obvious error of judgment."