A Tory minister has apologised after describing Blackpool as a “godawful” place. The town's council leader has blasted Heather Wheeler's comments as “ignorant” and “ill-advised”.
The Conservative MP for South Derbyshire made the comments during a launch event for the government’s new digital strategy on Thursday, saying: “I was just at a conference in Blackpool or Birmingham or somewhere godawful.” Ms Wheeler, who is a parliamentary secretary at the Cabinet Office, later apologised and said she made an “inappropriate remark that does not reflect my actual view”.
Labour politicians have voiced their criticism of Ms Wheeler’s comments, with deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner saying: “It’s frankly embarrassing that she’s still in her position as a minister.” Shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy tweeted: “What an absolute shower. They tell us they’re levelling up the country but this is what they truly think. They can’t even tell the difference between ‘Blackpool or Birmingham or somewhere godawful’. Clueless and offensive.”
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Labour councillor Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool town council, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Ms Wheeler’s words were “frustrating”, adding that the town was "used to getting (these) sort of ignorant and ill-advised comments".
She said: “It makes me quite cross that, you know, particularly in this instance we held the Tory spring conference back in March of this year, which was incredibly successful, at our state-of-the art conference centre. Blackpool’s seen the biggest increase in footfall for the last two years. We’re doing something right, people love Blackpool. Maybe she needs to come and have a look round and enjoy the world-famous illuminations on our beautiful promenade."
She said it was frustrating that the government was supposed to be helping the town to deal with social inequalities as part of the levelling up programme. "We carry on regardless", she said. "We’ll continue to invest in our town and our people.”
Asked whether Ms Wheeler’s apology is “sufficient”, the Blackpool Council leader replied: “I mean, you said it, you thought it. I mean, even sort of putting Blackpool and Birmingham as being the topic of the joke. I just… nothing surprises me. I think it’s more evidence of what the true thoughts are, really.”
Ms Wheeler's widely criticised remarks coincided with Boris Johnson’s major speech in the town just days after the confidence vote in his premiership, in which he announced plans to help renters on to the property ladder.
When asked for comment, the Cabinet Office pointed to Ms Wheeler’s apology. In a tweet on Friday, she had said: “Whilst speaking at a conference on Thursday, I made an inappropriate remark that does not reflect my actual view. I apologise for any offence caused.”
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