Nadine Dorries has made another embarrassing error - wrongly recalling England's 2003 Rugby Union World Cup triumph as being rugby league.
During a speech at a Rugby League World Cup event in St Helens, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport explained exactly what she was doing when a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal ensured the Red Rose became world champions for the first time.
“I’ve always quite liked the idea of rugby league," she said. “My long standing memory is that 2003 drop goal. I’ll let you into a secret. I think we were drinking Bloody Marys at the time… it was 11 o’clock in the morning.
“But wow. What a moment that was. But from my limited watching - I’m not going to say I’m an expert who watches it all the time - I’ve heard rugby league is a physical and sometimes brutal sport and it often ends up in a scrum which actually reminds me very much of politics.
“I think we have a lot in common and given that a lot of the media like to call me the prime minister’s attack dog I wonder sometimes if I should give rugby a go.”
The gaffe was uploaded to social media and twitter user @TimAlunWilliams said: “It’s funny, but it’s also not funny at all. She’s a Secretary of State, and she’s clearly not taking the responsibility seriously. This is basic stuff.”
User @CDML joked: “If she was impressed by that, just imagine what she will say when she sees what Jonny Wilkinson did in 2003.”
The event was held at the Portico Vine club in St Helens, and vice-chairman Billy Vaughan was unimpressed with Dorries' gaffe.
“What I think is, whoever writes speeches for people, there’s a number of things you should do," he said.
“One, you should get your facts right when you write them and secondly if you are the person who is delivering that speech, you need to do your research so whoever's written it is correct!
“Now, personally, the difference between rugby league and rugby union is immense because we as the minnow in comparison look down at the huge amount of money that is invested in rugby union.
“I cannot decry the Government. I applaud them for the money they have invested in rugby league but my thought is this: the difference between both is rugby league is a game that is played by individuals who are quite meaty. And then we have ‘kick and clap’ which is the other side of it.
“To make that reference towards rugby league about ‘when the drop goal went over’, I was sat next to a very prestigious individual and believe me we were both absolutely floundered. We were astonished at that comment.”
Dorries attempted to save face after the error, tweeting: "Like Jason Robinson I may have switched codes in my speech... Both league & union have a rich heritage in the UK. Obviously I've followed rugby league much less in my lifetime, but I'm looking forward to watching England (& all the home nations) in the RL World Cup this Autumn."
Dorries was speaking at an event setup to unveil the findings of a report which claims the 2021 Rugby League World Cup – delayed by the pandemic until later this year – has already made £25m worth of positive change in communities across the north of England through its social impact programme.
The report hails the success of raising funds for sporting facilities like pitches, clubhouses and changing rooms, and Dorries added: “We know that some of the towns and cities that will host Rugby League World Cup 2021 matches are amongst those hardest hit by the pandemic.
“And increases in the cost of living and the Government has backed the tournament with over £15m investment to bring world-class sport to these communities.
“The findings published in this report today are vindication of the decision taken to prioritise the Social Impact Programme from the very outset.
“It has been trailblazing in both its inception and delivery, laying the groundwork for future sporting events in this country and beyond to follow in its footsteps.”
