Keir Starmer slams 'silly sod' Tory for comparing new MP to 'The Inbetweeners'

21 July 2023 , 16:05

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Keir Starmer slams 'silly sod' Tory for comparing new MP to 'The Inbetweeners'

Keir Starmer has branded Tory minister Johnny Mercer a "silly sod" after he mocked a new Labour MP for being young.

In a sensational by-election victory, 25-year-old Keir Mather overturned a 20,000-strong Tory majority to seize Selby and Ainsty, in North Yorkshire.

But in a television interview shortly afterwards, the minister took aim at the successful Labour candidate, who will be Parliament's youngest MP, by comparing him one of "the Inbetweeners".

As he celebrated with Mr Mather today, Mr Starmer was overheard joking about how Mr Mercer would be out of a job come the next election. The Labour leader said: "There was some silly sod on the television last night saying "oh he's only 25". You're 25 and have made history. He's whatever age he is and is soon going to be history."

Keir Starmer hailed new MP Keir Mather for making history in the Selby and Ainsty by-election (Getty Images)

Mr Mercer had suggested Mr Mather needed to have worked and raised a family to "understand what life is like". He also suggested he'd "been at Oxford University more than he's been in a job". The Tory then referenced the hit comedy 'The Inbetweeners', which is about a group of awkward teenagers.

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Mr Mercer told Sky News: “I think it’s always good to get new people in politics. I think we mustn’t become a repeat of the Inbetweeners. You’ve got to have people who have actually done stuff. This guy has been at Oxford University more than he’s been in a job. You put a chip in him there and he just repeats Labour lines.

“The problem is people have had enough of that, right? They want people who are authentic, people who have worked in that constituency, who understand what life is like - to live, work and raise a family in communities like theirs.

“I’m afraid I don’t agree with this style of politics. It’s exactly why people like me couldn’t vote in the 2015 election, because you’ve got people with nothing to do with the constituency just dropped in, put a chip in them and they’ll start parroting Labour Party politics.”

His comments were branded "disrespectful" by senior Labour figures. Baroness Jenny Chapman said: "There is such a thing as being gracious in defeat, Johnny." She added: "How rude are you today? You need to get some sleep."

Shadow Minister Jess Phillips also hit back and questioned whether voters could identify with mega-rich Rishi Sunak. She tweeted: "Assume Johnny is gonna suggest no one under 25 should be in the military. It's telling that Tories think that the young are not affected by the cost of living, probably why they made laws to ban them getting benefits and to pay them less than others.

"Assume he thinks Rishi Sunak can't empathise with issues because he's not affected by the cost of living? If there were ever an identikit politician it's Sunak. Also not everyone lives off mommy and daddy in their twenties, when I was Keir Mathers age I had a baby and another on the way and hadn't lived with my parents for 8 years. Might suggest that in fact Mercer doesn't know the country he represents."

Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison, 29, mocked the comments. She tweeted: "AN UPDATE. Can confirm I’m not an Inbetweener. (I always preferred Skins anyway!)"

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John Stevens