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| David Mellor under pressure to apologise to the cabbie he called 'smart-arsed little b******' | |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Former cabinet minister David Mellor is under mounting pressure to make a public apology for abusing a taxi driver during an angry expletive-filled exchange. | Former cabinet minister David Mellor is under mounting pressure to make a public apology for abusing a taxi driver during an angry expletive-filled exchange. |
| Mellor, once the Conservative Culture Secretary, was caught out when the taxi driver decided to record the argument on his phone. | Mellor, once the Conservative Culture Secretary, was caught out when the taxi driver decided to record the argument on his phone. |
| During a row over which way they should be going, Mr Mellor swore no fewer than 17 times at the driver, whom he accused of being a “sweaty, stupid little shit”. | During a row over which way they should be going, Mr Mellor swore no fewer than 17 times at the driver, whom he accused of being a “sweaty, stupid little shit”. |
| The former politician was travelling home with his partner Lady Penelope Cobham, who had received a CBE at Buckingham Palace earlier that day for her services to the tourism industry. | The former politician was travelling home with his partner Lady Penelope Cobham, who had received a CBE at Buckingham Palace earlier that day for her services to the tourism industry. |
| Details of the argument, which took place in London on Friday night, emerged in The Sun this morning. | Details of the argument, which took place in London on Friday night, emerged in The Sun this morning. |
| “You've been driving a cab for 10 years; I've been in the Cabinet, I'm an award-winning broadcaster, I'm a Queen's Counsel. You think that your experiences are anything compared to mine? Just shut up... and don't give me a lot of shit,” he told the driver. | “You've been driving a cab for 10 years; I've been in the Cabinet, I'm an award-winning broadcaster, I'm a Queen's Counsel. You think that your experiences are anything compared to mine? Just shut up... and don't give me a lot of shit,” he told the driver. |
| The row then got personal, with Mr Mellor saying: “And if you think you're going to be sarky with me, get a better education before you try being sarcastic with me. So if you're not going to say you're sorry just shut the fuck up.” | The row then got personal, with Mr Mellor saying: “And if you think you're going to be sarky with me, get a better education before you try being sarcastic with me. So if you're not going to say you're sorry just shut the fuck up.” |
| David Mellor with Lady Penelope Cobham, after she had received a CBE at Buckingham Palace (PA) He continued to swear at the driver, who he called a “smart-arsed little bastard” and repeatedly threatened to name him on a Saturday radio show he fronts. In the event, the former politician elected not to carry out the threat. | David Mellor with Lady Penelope Cobham, after she had received a CBE at Buckingham Palace (PA) He continued to swear at the driver, who he called a “smart-arsed little bastard” and repeatedly threatened to name him on a Saturday radio show he fronts. In the event, the former politician elected not to carry out the threat. |
| The 38-year-old driver, from London, said: “Politicians say they are in touch with ordinary, hardworking people, but he hasn't got a clue. They just don't get it.” Referring to Mr Mellor, the driver, who does not want to be named, added: “He's got no idea about my life and how tough it is. And more to the point he doesn't care.” He accused the former politician of treating him like “a second-class citizen”. | The 38-year-old driver, from London, said: “Politicians say they are in touch with ordinary, hardworking people, but he hasn't got a clue. They just don't get it.” Referring to Mr Mellor, the driver, who does not want to be named, added: “He's got no idea about my life and how tough it is. And more to the point he doesn't care.” He accused the former politician of treating him like “a second-class citizen”. |
| Mr Mellor stopped short of an apology today, telling The Mirror: “This man seriously provoked me and ruined a wonderful day.” | Mr Mellor stopped short of an apology today, telling The Mirror: “This man seriously provoked me and ruined a wonderful day.” |
| He added: “Once I had lost my temper, which I regret, he then secretly recorded me. I will leave the public to judge his actions.” | He added: “Once I had lost my temper, which I regret, he then secretly recorded me. I will leave the public to judge his actions.” |
| But his outburst has prompted a furious response from trade unionists. Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT, said: “Our black cab members across London are considering a boycott of the Tory toff David Mellor over his outrageous, pompous and disgraceful tirade against one of their colleagues.” | But his outburst has prompted a furious response from trade unionists. Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT, said: “Our black cab members across London are considering a boycott of the Tory toff David Mellor over his outrageous, pompous and disgraceful tirade against one of their colleagues.” |
| He added: “His sneering and snobbish verbal assault says it all about the elite that run this country and their attitude towards the working classes that they expect to transport them.” | He added: “His sneering and snobbish verbal assault says it all about the elite that run this country and their attitude towards the working classes that they expect to transport them.” |
| And Simon Rush, president of the professional drivers branch of the GMB, demanded “a public apology” from Mr Mellor for his “loutish verbal attack”. | And Simon Rush, president of the professional drivers branch of the GMB, demanded “a public apology” from Mr Mellor for his “loutish verbal attack”. |
| Steve McNamara, general secretary, the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, told The Independent: “I strongly suspect he’s had more than a glass of Chablis or whatever it is former Tory politicians drink these days and the sensible thing to do would be to issue an apology to the cabbie in question.” | Steve McNamara, general secretary, the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, told The Independent: “I strongly suspect he’s had more than a glass of Chablis or whatever it is former Tory politicians drink these days and the sensible thing to do would be to issue an apology to the cabbie in question.” |
| People should not worry about being recorded by taxi drivers, he added: “You cannot be recorded in a cab, obviously what’s happened is the driver’s used a mobile phone app.” | People should not worry about being recorded by taxi drivers, he added: “You cannot be recorded in a cab, obviously what’s happened is the driver’s used a mobile phone app.” |
| He defended Mr Mellor: “I’ve picked him up myself; he’s actually a very nice guy despite everything that he’s said. He’s not a bad guy. Unluckily for him, he got recorded. I’ve never ever heard of a passenger being recorded before in this way. But I don’t think he was set up.” | He defended Mr Mellor: “I’ve picked him up myself; he’s actually a very nice guy despite everything that he’s said. He’s not a bad guy. Unluckily for him, he got recorded. I’ve never ever heard of a passenger being recorded before in this way. But I don’t think he was set up.” |
| Mr Mellor’s agent did not respond to a request for comment. | Mr Mellor’s agent did not respond to a request for comment. |