Politics

‘Crap parents’ behind struggling children, Tory MP James Frith claims

Published

2 years ago

December 29, 2023

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A Conservative MP has claimed that most children who struggle in his town are the “products of crap parents”.

James Daly, the Tory MP for Bury North, made the claim while speaking to the i newspaper.

He was first elected in 2019 as an MP for the area. Bury North has swapped between Labour and the Conservatives since 1997.

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James Frith, the Labour MP who Mr Daly unseated, is aiming to win the seat back at the election set to be called next year. The current majority is just 105.

Mr Daly is a member of the “New Conservatives” group, which includes the likes of Lee Anderson, Jonathan Gullis, Danny Kruger and Miriam Cates.

He worked as a lawyer before entering parliament.

Speaking to the i, Mr Daly said: “I think New Conservatives represent very much working-class conservatism.

“We’re not a strange right-wing sect. It’s just people who want to give people the best chance to succeed and thrive in life.

“When you think about the family, it’s about stability.

“Most of the kids who struggle in Bury are the products of crap parents and so what do we do to try to address that issue?

“On the left it would just be we’ll throw money at this and hope something sticks, somebody like me thinks about this more fundamentally.”

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Mr Frith said: “It is revealing to see how little James Daly thinks of his own constituents.

“Rather than insulting the parenting skills of people in Bury, he should look closer to home.

“Over the last 13 years the Conservatives have failed to grow our economy, protect our public services or provide opportunities for young people in Bury and across the UK.”

Politics

Man admits arson after major fire at MP Sharon Hodgson’s constituency office

Published

47 mins ago

September 13, 2025

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Man admits arson after major fire at MP Sharon Hodgson's constituency office

A man has admitted arson after a major fire at an MP’s constituency office.

Joshua Oliver, 28, pleaded guilty to starting the fire which destroyed the office of Labour MP Sharon Hodgson, at Vermont House in Washington, Tyne and Wear.

The fire also wrecked a small charity for people with very rare genetic diseases and an NHS mental health service for veterans.

The guilty plea was entered at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on the basis that it was reckless rather than intentional.

The Crown did not accept that basis of plea.

Oliver, of no fixed address, had been living in a tent nearby, the court heard.

Northumbria Police previously said it was “alerted to a fire at a premises on Woodland Terrace in the Washington area” shortly after 12.20am on Thursday.

“Emergency services attended and no one is reported to have been injured in the incident,” it added.

Drone footage from the scene showed extensive damage to the building.

A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

“We have worked closely with Northumbria Police as they carried out their investigation.”

Oliver was remanded in custody and will appear at Newcastle Crown Court on Tuesday, 14 October.