A Conservative general election candidate has apologised after she commented on Facebook that people on the TV show Benefits Street needed to be “put down.”
Francesca O’Brien, who is running for the Gower seat in December’s election made the disparaging comment during an episode of Channel 4’s Benefits Street in January 2014.
In the Facebook post in question following the first episode of Benefits Street five years ago, she said:
Benefit Street..anyone else watching this?? Wow, these people are unreal!!!
Tory candidate Franscesca O'Brien from the Gower Conservatives homepage (Picture: Gower & Swansea Conservatives)
And then, responding to another Facebook comment, she said:
My blood is boiling, these people need putting down.
The Facebook post has been unearthed in light of O’Brien’s candidacy, and in a statement released on Sunday she said:
These comments were made off the cuff, a number of years ago.
However, I accept that my use of language was unacceptable and I would like to apologise for any upset I have caused.
According to the BBC, Labour called for the candidate to be dropped, but Welsh Conservative chairman Byron Davies stood by O’Brien.
The Labour press team tweeted:
It is shameful that Boris Johnson is allowing Francesca O’Brien to stand for his party in Gower. This reveals the Conservatives’ contempt for the less well off.”
The former commissioned officer with RAF Air Cadets was selected as a party candidate for Gower in October after an open primary and is set to run in the general election on 12 December.
For many, the apology wasn't enough
Absolutely nauseating: the Tory candidate for Gower, Francesca O'Brien, wrote that people on Benefits Street should… https://t.co/mp2qrtw4mP— Owen Jones 🌹 (@Owen Jones 🌹) 1572800723
"I don't know the context of what she said," says @theresecoffey this morning. Hmm. Seems pretty clear. (Francesca… https://t.co/x9M1qPS9mK— James Oh Brien (@James Oh Brien) 1572856844
So Francesca O'Brien apologised for her 'off the cuff' remarks about Benefit Street. NO. You thought it, and you… https://t.co/pQ7XvwUY8y— Stu Roberts. (@Stu Roberts.) 1572869903
HT Huff Post