Gordon Brown calls local woman 'bigoted'

Gordon Brown

The Prime Minister has turned Rochdale Labour candidate Simon Danczuk's already struggling election campaign into a public relations disaster, having been heard describing an exchange he had with a female voter on the campaign trail in Rochdale today as a "disaster", calling her a "bigoted woman".

Gillian Duffy, a 66-year-old widow, and a lifelong Labour voter, told the Prime Minister that she was concerned about immigration from Eastern Europe.

But he was unaware that his microphone was still on as he got into his car and sped away, and was heard berating his staff for allowing the encounter.

He told an aide: "That was a disaster. Should never have put me with that woman. Whose idea was that?"

When the aide said they did not know who was responsible, the Prime Minister snapped: "ridiculous".

His companion suggested that television crews who filmed the encounter, just off Bentley Street, would not broadcast it.

But Mr Brown said: "They will use it."

The aide asked what Mrs Duffy had said, and Mr Brown replied: "Everything. She's just a sort of bigoted woman who says she used to be Labour."

The pensioner had been talking to reporters at the back of a crowd observing Mr Brown's visit to a community pay back scheme, where offenders were picking up litter, when Sue Nye, his long-term aide and "gatekeeper" summoned her over to discuss her concerns with the Prime Minister.

Mrs Duffy said she was "very annoyed", adding: "I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet but if that's what he said I'm very upset."

During their conversation, she had told the Prime Minister that she was concerned that vulnerable people were missing out on support while those who did not deserve them were able to claim benefits.

She said: "All these Eastern Europeans, where are they coming from?"

Mr Brown said that a million Europeans had come to the United Kingdom, but that a similar number of Britons were now living on the continent.

Mrs Duffy told him that she felt that the issue of immigration was not being discussed properly for reasons of political correctness. "You can't say anything about immigrants," she said.

Mrs Duffy, who has a daughter and two grandchildren, told reporters she used to work with handicapped children for Rochdale council before she retired.

Her husband, who was a painter and decorator, died of cancer four years ago. 

The Prime Minister's blunder has done no favours for the highly controversial Labour Party candidate in Rochdale, Simon Danczuk, whose lacklustre campaign sees him trailing Paul Rowen badly - latest feedback shows Mr Rowen 11 to 12% ahead of Mr Danczuk, who has virtually no hope of pulling the deficit back given dozens of previously loyal local Labour Party supporters refuse to campaign for him and some are actively encouraging Labour supporters to vote for the Lib Dem candidate, Paul Rowen.

Labour Councillor and ex Mayor, Robin Parker said: "It was nonsense bringing him to Rochdale when local opinion polls indicate a Rowen majority of several thousands. It shows how out of touch Labour North West is with what's really happening.

"There really must be a clear out after the election."

Posting on the Rochdale Online forum, Unison 'Joint Trade Union Convenor' at Pennine Acute NHS Trust, which includes Rochdale Infirmary, Pete Hinchliffe had stronger words to say: "Well that's Labour's campaign over. Thanks Gordon you stupid sod. What a kick in the balls for all of us who have worked so bloody hard."

Rochdale’s Liberal Democrat candidate, Paul Rowen, said: “Mr Brown started this campaign talking about the need to re-engage with voters across the country but his visit to Rochdale has shown that he is completely out of touch with them.

"Mrs Duffy is just an ordinary Rochdale woman who wanted to speak to her Prime Minister about his plans for the economy, her pension, tuition fees and immigration.

"To label her a bigot for raising concerns over the numbers of migrants entering Britain from Eastern Europe, because this Government failed to put the correct controls in place, is ridiculous.” 

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