Tory MP and prominent Brexiteer Andrew Bridgen has apologised after he defended Jacob Rees-Mogg's Grenfell comments by saying the leader of the House of Commons would have survived the Grenfell blaze because he was more "clever" than the residents. He admitted he was "wrong."
In what is shaping up to be a bad PR day for the Conservative party, Bridgen appeared on BBC's PM show to defend his Tory colleague for is "uncharacteristically clumsy" comments in which he suggested victims of the fire which killed 72 people should have used "common sense" to leave the building.
Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire appeared on the BBC and said: "Jacob is a leader. He's an authority figure and what he has failed to realise is that in a life-threatening and stressful situation most people will defer to the advice of an authority figure, be that someone from the fire authority or the police,v and not come to their own conclusions."
He went on: "As we know, in regards to Grenfell that advice was flawed.
When asked by host Evan Davis if Rees-Mogg was saying he he wouldn't have died because he was "cleverer" than the people who took the fire brigade's advice, Bridgen replied:
But we want very clever people running the country, don't we Evan?
And that is a bi-product of what Jacob is. and that is why he is in a position of authority. What he is actually saying is, he would have made a better decision than the authority figures who gave that advice.
Bridgen backtracked on his comments, but it was far too late
I realise that what I said was wrong and caused a great deal of distress and offence. It was not my intention to do… https://t.co/Oox22vAVOJ— Andrew Bridgen (@Andrew Bridgen) 1573020818
Bridgen's comments went down like a lead balloon, with many calling them "callous"
I didn’t think my opinion of Andrew Bridgen could sink any lower. But he clearly thinks that people who live in cou… https://t.co/FNx3wG5y5e— Nick Boles (@Nick Boles) 1572985340
In Andrew Bridgen's defence, he is extremely stupid— Michael Deacon (@Michael Deacon) 1572976319
Andrew Bridgen rushing to the assistance of Jacob Rees-Mogg https://t.co/MNARNRMpFZ— Jim Pickard (@Jim Pickard) 1572976440
Many people are saying it's an embarrassing day for the Conservatives
Wow, the MP Andrew Bridgen just making Rees Mogg Grenfell remarks worse; defends him by saying he’s a very clever a… https://t.co/lVbSDvtcDY— Jenni Russell (@Jenni Russell) 1572974318
“How’s it gone so far?” “Well Jacob Rees Mogg decided to insult the Grenfell victims, one of our ads was called ou… https://t.co/swgrLyMkNY— Alan White (@Alan White) 1572980818
Excellent! Mogg First! Andrew Bridgen second, and now Julia Hartley-Brewer ... all lining up to imply that those wh… https://t.co/WyLoHdLZKA— Femi (@Femi) 1572990788
Earlier, Rees-Mogg apologised for his comments as well following intense backlash online.
Basically:
It’s not even day one of the official campaign and alongside sick horrendous comments from @Jacob_Rees_Mogg and And… https://t.co/BahwbK0BYN— David Lammy (@David Lammy) 1572996225
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