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Tory rapped for fruit-picking jibe
A TOP Tory is facing calls to resign after saying unemployed northerners should replace Eastern European immigrants by taking fruit-picking jobs in the south.
David Shakespeare, leader of the Conservative group on the Local Government Association, sparked outrage after declaring people from the north should find work in fruit farms and orchards.
Coun Shakespeare, who is also the leader of Buckinghamshire county council, told a meeting of the LGA: "The north may replace the Romanians in the cherry orchards. That may be a good thing."
Labour MPs have likened his comments to Norman Tebbit's advice to the unemployed in the 1980s to "get on your bike". Barnsley East Labour MP Michael Dugher has written to David Cameron asking if the Prime Minister will condemn the comments.
He said: "Do you appreciate how out of touch, insensitive and insulting these comments are? Doesn't it just demonstrate the Tories are still the same old nasty party?"
Coun Shakespeare's comments were also condemned by senior Conservatives in the north. Coun Andrew Carter, the leader of the Conservative group on Leeds Council, said he either resign or issue an "abject apology".
But Coun Shakespeare insisted his remarks were "totally jovial".He told his local newspaper: "The comment was said in clear jest."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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