A Government minister has apologised for describing Blackpool as a “godawful” place.
Heather Wheeler, the Tory MP for South Derbyshire, said she made an “inappropriate remark that does not reflect my actual view” at a conference on Thursday.
Her apology followed reports that she appeared to go off script at an event to launch the Government’s new digital strategy, saying: “I was just at a conference in Blackpool or Birmingham or somewhere godawful.”
She was speaking on the same day Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivered a major speech in Blackpool, as he sought to get his embattled premiership back on track.
Mr Johnson pledged a review of the mortgage market under plans to help renters onto the property ladder after surviving a bruising Tory revolt against his leadership.
Ms Wheeler, who is a parliamentary secretary in the Cabinet Office, appeared to own up to the comments on Friday, tweeting: “Whilst speaking at a conference on Thursday, I made an inappropriate remark that does not reflect my actual view. I apologise for any offence caused.”
The reports drew scorn from the opposition, with deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner saying: “It’s frankly embarrassing that she’s still in her position as a minister.”
Shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy tweeted: “What an absolute shower. They tell us they’re levelling up the country but this is what they truly think.
"They can’t even tell the difference between ‘Blackpool or Birmingham or somewhere godawful’. Clueless and offensive.”
Asked for comment, the Cabinet Office pointed back to Ms Wheeler’s apology.
The leader of Blackpool Council has suggested Ms Wheeler may need to “come and have a look round” herself.
Labour councillor Lynn Williams described Ms Wheeler’s reported remarks as “frustrating”, but said: “We’re used to getting (these) sort of ignorant and ill-advised comments.”
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It makes me quite cross that, you know, particularly in this instance we held the Tory spring conference back in March of this year, which was incredibly successful, at our state-of-the art conference centre.
“Blackpool’s seen the biggest increase in footfall for the last two years. We’re doing something right, people love Blackpool.
"Maybe she needs to come and have a look round and enjoy the world-famous illuminations on our beautiful promenade.
“We know we’ve got a lot of social inequalities to deal with and we’re actually meant to be working with the Government to deal with those as part of the levelling up programme so, yeah, it’s just frustrating.
“But we carry on regardless. We’ll continue to invest in our town and our people.”
Asked if Heather’s Wheeler’s apology – in which she said her remark did not reflect her “actual view” – was sufficient, Blackpool Council leader Lynn Williams said: “I mean, you said it, you thought it.
“I mean, even sort of putting Blackpool and Birmingham as being the topic of the joke. I just … nothing surprises me.
“I think it’s more evidence of what the true thoughts are, really.”
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