A SECRET Santa gift to new MP Sara Britcliffe of a T-shirt bearing a picture of the Labour candidate she defeated has brought her festive fury rather than Christmas cheer.

A photo on Facebook of her wearing the present with Graham Jones’s image across the front at a private party prompted a social media storm of criticism.

Miss Britcliffe, who took Hyndburn from the former MP by 2,951 votes, said: “It’s not the best start. I did not mean to cause offence.”

Mr Jones described wearing the T-shirt as ‘disgusting ‘ and ‘childish’.

His partner Kimberley Whitehead, who initially reacted angrily on social media, said: “I think it is in bad taste."

Comments on Facebook forums included ‘Tory mocking someone losing their job’, ‘shocking and not great to see’, and ‘it is very ill fitting and childish for an MP to behave in this manner’.

However, other comments said ‘I for one love this’, ‘Fair play to her’, and ‘Get over it dude! Conservatives won’.

Miss Britcliffe, 24, said: “It was at a private party.

“It was a Secret Santa gift from two Labour-supporting friends who did not expect me to win.

“They bet me to wear it. It was not intended to cause offence to Graham.

“He was a very hard-working MP which I intend to be. I have apologised to Graham through his partner as I don’t have his mobile phone number.

“I am going to have to be more careful in future.”

Mr Jones, who was MP from 2010 and previously leader of Hyndburn Labour group, clashed frequently with Miss Britcliffe’s father Peter who was then Tory council boss.

Mr Jones said: “I have not received any apology from Sara. She has a phone. Her father and his colleagues have my mobile telephone number. But nothing.

“I have so far said little.

"I have been very gracious to her in defeat on the night and since.

“Quite frankly this sort of behaviour is disgusting, childish and not befitting of an MP.

"If it was done in private then being two-faced and untrustworthy about it only makes the matter worse.

"Blaming it on friends demonstrates an inability to fulfil the role responsibly.

“I’d like to know what words are printed across my name on the T-shirt? I hope she manages to turn this disastrous start around.”

Miss Whitehead said: “Sara has apologised to Graham through me."