Disgraced MP Jared O’Mara QUITS amid ‘C-word storm’ just days after aide hijacked his Twitter account
SHAME MP Jared O’Mara announced yesterday he will resign in September.
He said he was “not well and in the process of receiving medical help” and would resign after the Commons summer recess.
Mr O’Mara, 37, was elected as a Labour MP after defeating Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg to clinch the Sheffield Hallam seat in June 2017.
But he now sits as an Independent after quitting Labour due to the alleged posting of misogynistic and homophobic comments online.
In a statement yesterday he said: “I am not in any fit state to continue and nor would that be appropriate if I was. I reiterate my apology to my constituents, the people of Sheffield and the people of the UK as a whole.”
He said he would be taking some time out to seek professional help for his mental health, and that he wanted to apologise to his family, friends and constituents.
The announcement came after Gareth Arnold, his chief of staff, resigned in a series of tweets published on Mr O’Mara’s Twitter account.
QUITTING LABOUR
On Saturday, Mr Arnold said Mr O’Mara had asked him to stay on until a new MP takes the Sheffield Hallam seat.
His decision raises the prospect of a by-election in the autumn in a seat that will be fiercely contested.
He added: “He’s going, there will be a by-election and a new MP before the end of the year.”
Mr O’Mara had the whip withdrawn after apparently sexist and homophobic comments emerged, which he had posted on social media years before he was elected, but was readmitted to the party after receiving a formal warning.
But last year, Mr O’Mara resigned from Labour, saying he had been “made unfairly to feel like a criminal”, and now sits as an independent.
'PROFESSIONAL HELP'
His announcement that he will resign as MP comes after allegations that he sexually harassed a former employee.
But Mr Arnold said he had already made the decision to resign.
He said: “Even before this came out, he’d already come to that decision when I spoke to him.
“I think it was an influencing factor but I think he’d already made up his mind.”
In his statement on Thursday, Mr O’Mara said: “I will be taking time out to receive professional help to deal with my mental health and personal issues regarding self-medication.”
He said: “I would like to start by apologising to my family, my friends and my constituents. I have not been honest with you about the depths of my depression and self-loathing.
The series of abusive comments included rants against overweight people as well as declaring it would be amusing if jazz musician Jamie Cullum was raped and killed.
Mr O'Mara 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 a***. In fact, it would be quite funny."
And he also made obscene remarks about pop group Girls Aloud, posting: "Girls Aloud - I advise you to sack Sarah and the remaining four members come and have an orgy with me."
He also described Sheffield United supporters as "f***ing pigs" and the residents of Leeds as "a bunch of rugby lovin' c****".
O'Mara, who was 26 at the time, also spoke in disparaging terms about Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus - saying she only won the TV talent show because she "was fat".
He added: "Being a disabled person, I would hate to win something because people thought I was 'brave' or felt sorry for me, rather than for my superior ability/talent."
Following a day of damaging reports, Mr O'Mara announced on the night of October 23, 2017, he was resigning from the Women and Equalities select committee.
The party suspended Mr O'Mara during the investigation, following pressure from senior MPs.
- GOT a story? Ring The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or email exclusive@the-sun.co.uk.