Labour MP Jared O’Mara steps down from Commons Women’s and Equalities Committee after making rape jokes online
Shamed Jared O'Mara - the man who beat Nick Clegg in Sheffield Hallam - has apologised after being exposed as an internet troll
A NEW Labour MP has been forced to stand down from the Commons Women’s and Equalities Committee after being exposed as an internet troll who made rape jokes and branded Brits fatties.
Jared O’Mara issued a grovelling apology today for his sick online posts – including asking Girls Aloud for an orgy - just weeks after Labour launched a crackdown on abuse in the party.
In a torrent of abuse pasted on a music site in 2004, O’Mara - who beat Nick Clegg in one of the biggest upsets of June’s Election - ranted against fat people and described footy fans in his own city as “f***ing pigs”.
And in one sick outburst he declared it would be funny if jazz musician Jamie Cullum was raped to death.
He wrote: “It would be no great loss to the music world if he was sodomised with his own piano and subsequently died of a sore arse. In fact, it would be quite funny”.
And in a mock advice column, he posted: "Girls Aloud - I advise you to sack Sarah and the remaining four members come and have an orgy with me."
The controversial MP for Sheffield Hallam, who was 26 at time, hit out at “the prevailing western tendency to deify fatties” and said that fat people do not “deserve our respect.”
He also described Sheffield United supporters as “f***ing pigs” and the residents of Leeds as “a bunch of rugby lovin’ c****”
Labour MP Stephen Doughty branded the comments “obviously totally unacceptable” and said he had raised his “deep concerns” in person with the disgraced new MP.
The revelation will reignite the ongoing row about abuse within Labour, after boss Jeremy Corbyn said “as the party of equality, there can be no place in Labour for prejudice.”
One of his top allies was reprimanded last week after he was filmed saying "Get on your knees bitch" at a party hosted by hard-left group Momentum.
A recent meeting about abuse within the fractious party descend into farce when top official claimed MPs who are disloyal to Mr Corbyn “deserve to be attacked”.
Labour’s powerful National Executive discussed vicious abuse aimed at Labour MPs from hard-left supporters of Jeremy Corbyn in September.
But Pete Willsman, secretary of the Labour Campaign for Democracy, claimed: “Some of our MPs deserve to be attacked.”
Today O’Mara has apologised for his “inappropriate” language after some of his rants were published by the Guido Fawkes blog.
He told The Sun: “I regret the choice of words and apologise for any offence caused.”
And he later tweeted a longer statement, saying: “I am deeply ashamed of the comments I made online, which have emerged today.
“I was wrong to make them; I understand why they are offensive and sincerely apologise for my use of such unacceptable language.
“I made the comments as a young man, at a particularly difficult time in my life, but that is no excuse. Misogyny is a deep problem in our society.
“Since making those comments 15 years ago, I have learned about inequalities of power and how violent language perpetuates them.
“I continue to strive to be a better man and work where I can to confront misogyny, which is why I’m so proud to sit on the Women and Equalities Select Committee.
“I will continue to engage with, and crucially learn from, feminist and other equalities groups so as an MP I can do whatever I can to tackle misogyny.”
Last night the MP also apologised at the weekly meeting of Labour MPs in Westminster.
His colleague Wes Streeting described it as "heartfelt and sincere" and "took guts" to deliver.
Before O'Mara stepped down, Liberal Democrat peer Lord Scriven said: “It seems like a nasty pattern of sexist language and misogyny is developing from the Labour MP for Sheffield Hallam.
“He clearly isn’t fit to sit on the Women and Equalities Committee. He must stand down from that committee immediately and if he doesn’t,
“Jeremy Corbyn must take action to remove him. Having spoken to voters in Sheffield Hallam they are beginning to question what kind of MP he is.”
