Just a refresher ‘Scumbag hooligans’ row Tory MP apologises – and wishes Sunderland well in the FA Cup please log in to view this image 09:22Tuesday 04 March 2014 A TORY MP who labelled thousands of partying football fans as “scumbag hooligans” today apologised to Wearside. Robert Halfon came under fire after he tweeted his disgust at litter left by thousands of Sunderland supporters in Covent Garden during a celebration on Saturday night ahead of Sunday’s Capital One Cup Final. Football fans across the country – and even members of his own party – hit back at the member for Harlow in Essex. Mr Halfon later defended himself by saying he did not specifically mention SAFC fans and added that his comments had been “misunderstood”. Now he has come out with an unreserved apology and told the Echo he regrets the tweet. He said: “I would like to stress that in no way did I single out any Sunderland fans or any other fans from any club, but I accept the way this has been interpreted. “I do regret most sincerely that my emotive tweet did not reflect the distinction between a minority who had smashed glass and the majority of decent fans who were just celebrating as any fan would do. “I am very sorry for the difficulties and offence this has caused. I did not know that it was just Sunderland fans in the area when I made the tweet. I initially asked police what had gone on and they said there were fans from six clubs in that area that evening.” Mr Halfon even went on to say he would be happy to see fans back in the capital if they win this weekend’s FA Cup quarter final clash with Hull. “I wish Sunderland every success in the FA Cup and in the league. I apologise to Sunderland fans and I hope they understand the context in which it was written.” Wearside MP Julie Elliott had sent a letter to Mr Halfon demanding he apologise. Mrs Elliott, who represents Sunderland Central for Labour, said: “Whilst I am pleased that Robert Halfon MP has apologised to the people of Sunderland for his comments, I continue to believe that they were wholly unfounded. “The comments were also completely inappropriate for a member of Parliament in this day and age.” Sunderland Conservative councillor Lee Martin, who criticised Mr Halfon’s comments, said the apology had been overdue. “I wish he’d just apologised in the first place,” said Coun Martin. “He’s managed to offend every Sunderland fan in the land, and a lot of them are Tory supporters. “At least two former Sunderland Tory councillors, Chris Fairs and Stephen Daughton, were amongst the revellers in Covent Garden on Saturday night. It was a party, not a riot. “I am very proud of how our fans conducted themselves. I’m not so proud of Mr Halfon. “The Labour Party in the North East use tribalism to cover for their failings. Unfortunately, the idiotic Mr Halfon has just given them a gem.” Tens of thousands of Sunderland supporters descended on the capital for the club’s first major cup final in more than two decades. Metropolitan Police praised fans of the Black Cats and opponents Manchester City, with just four people arrested. Today's news. Tory minister Robert Halfon admits cheating on partner amid blackmail claims Conservative deputy chairman says he is ashamed after reports that Tory aide attempted to blackmail him over relationship with activist please log in to view this image Robert Halfon said the most important thing to him was ‘to repair my relationship with my partner’. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Rowena MasonPolitical correspondent Monday 16 November 2015 10.08 GMT Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Google+ Shares 44 Save for later A Conservative cabinet minister has admitted cheating on his partner after it emerged he was warned that a Tory aide was trying to blackmail him. Robert Halfon, deputy chairman of the Conservatives and minister without portfolio, released a statement through the party after reports he had a relationship with a Tory activist during the election campaign behind the back of his long-term partner. “What I did was wrong, and I feel ashamed. I am not proud of myself. The most important thing to me is to continue to repair my relationship with my partner,” the 46-year-old said. Halfon, who was promoted after gaining a reputation as a strong campaigner, revealed the affair following a report in the Mail on Sunday that a Tory election aide, Mark Clarke, had been scheming to blackmail him. The report alleged he had been warned before the election in May that Clarke was attempting to obtain photos of him and the woman coming out of the East India Club. Clarke has been suspended by the Consevatives while he is investigated over claims of bullying a 21-year-old activist, Elliott Johnson, who is believed to have killed himself in September. Clarke strongly denies all allegations of bullying, harassment and attempted blackmail. A Conservative statement said: “The Conservative party received a serious complaint against Mark Clarke in August 2015. Lord Feldman, the party chairman, immediately authorised an investigation into that complaint, and disciplinary proceedings have begun. “Mark Clarke’s membership of the party, and his involvement with the party, have been suspended pending the outcome of those proceedings, which are in progress. Mr Clarke was also forbidden to attend the Conservative party conference. “If the allegations against Mr Clarke are found to be true, the party board will permanently exclude Mr Clarke from the party. There would be no prospect of Mr Clarke being allowed to apply to be a Conservative party candidate of any kind, or to represent the party in any respect, again.” Halfon and Clarke both need to **** off away from the government for good. A women is dead but no, there's only one thing that matters here "The most important thing to me is to continue to repair my relationship with my partner,”
Shows everything you need to know about the people running the country!! As long as his relationshiop he ****ed up with his missus is OK then it doesn't matter if someone killed themselves!!
Am I missing something here. The only person who is dead is some bloke that the blackmailer has previously bullied which I assume has nothing to do with the chap who previously bashed Sunderland supporters and who later cheated on his long term partner. Which woman is dead?
Oh yeah Still all stinks to high heaven. It's still our government and it's got double standards, cheating, blackmail and bullying all in one story. Point remains the same. This government is complete poison.
Agreed. I Just thought that I was being daft and missing something obvious. I read through the article about half a dozen times before I had the nerve to raise the question at the risk of making myself look stupid.
What ship? What port? Last time I went on a ship was a trip from North Shields to Amsterdam about 5 years ago...........Oh I see!
Meanwhile with Labour... Jeremy Corbyn says he is "not happy" with UK police or security services operating a "shoot-to-kill" policy in the event of a terror attack.
Why would he be? Bullets are not the answer, Elderflower green tea and a nice hug is all you need, remember.
Of course he isn't. That daft bastard just wants to bury his head while conflict surrounds us. The ****ing politics in this country has the place a right ****ing mess. It's sapping away at my sanity.
They are all the same mate. Switch off and forget what's going on around you, concentrate on living your life and **** the rest Oh just remembered, you get my vote for mod if you go for it one day..
It's hard when it's everywhere. My head's ****ed mate. If it's not politics it's general humanity and if it's not that it's my own head ****. Head's battered. At least I'm getting sleep now. Too much.
Dark, energy sapping, self hating despair mate. I've had the best day I've had in ages today and low and behold I can't sleep.
I'm the opposite.... Demons are destroying me the past few weeks... I can't switch off !! I'm in for another long night... And I've gotta be in Boro for 0820am for a bloody medical. Got the dreaded call today... I'm heading out on the 14th Dec
**** mate, close enough to Christmas to have a Christmas day before you leave? I couldn't switch off either, but then i just slumped further and I've given up. Spend half the time in bed in and out for sleep. Lots of going to sleep in darkness and waking up in darkness. Really need to get my arse in gear as the Landlady is selling and I have to be out by the 2 of Jan.
