A UK government minister has apologized for calling Britain’s second-largest city and famous seaside resort of Lancashire “scary” on the same day as Boris Johnson delivered a keynote speech on politics in the latter city.
Heather Wheeler, a junior cabinet minister, used the phrase to describe Birmingham and Blackpool at a technology conference in London on Thursday.
She has since apologized, saying the comments do not reflect her true views.
But Labor has accused the government, which has put equalization, narrowing economic inequality of such coastal and post-industrial areas, at the heart of its domestic agenda, arrogance and contempt.
Wheeler spoke at an event in London to launch the government’s new digital strategy, entitled The 2022-2025 Roadmap for a Digital Future.
In the preamble to her speech, she told the audience, “I was at a conference in, I don’t know, Blackpool or Birmingham, somewhere awful,” before telling an anecdote about the hiccups she had with a lecture on stage.
On the same day, the Prime Minister was in Blackpool, speaking about plans to reduce taxes and allow applicants for benefits to buy their own social housing. The Conservatives are due to hold their party conference in Birmingham in October, and the city is due to host the British Community Games this summer.
Chris Middleton, a technology journalist, took up Wheeler’s comment before posting a note about him on Twitter.
The blunder was met with outrage by Labor.
“Who the hell do you think Heather Wheeler is?” said Liam Byrne, a Labor MP who is part of Birmingham, adding that the Tories had “reduced” public spending in the city, creating poverty and unemployment.
“For a government minister who then simply abuses Britain’s second city weeks before our British Community games to tell us everything you need to know about their arrogant, contactless, born to drive contempt for the heart of our great country.
Lisa Nandi, secretary for shadowing, said: “This comment reveals the true colors of the Conservatives. No wonder the Tories fail to level our great cities so miserably, if they really think so.
Growing up in South London and now an MP from South Derbyshire, Wheeler is currently Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet, a junior role that follows other ministerial positions in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is responsible for homelessness. As homelessness minister, she has drawn criticism for not knowing why the number of sleepers has increased.
In a statement, Wheeler said: “While speaking at a conference on Thursday, I made an inappropriate remark that does not reflect my real point of view. I apologize for the insult. “
One government official said, “I think it was just something out of the ordinary, I’m sure you can tell.”
The cabinet declined to comment.
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