1984

[UnWilly]

It's a sad state of affairs when you read this:

"He now sits as an independent MP having quit Labour in 2018 after he was suspended over alleged misogynistic and homophobic comments posted online."

(www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-49139758)

can't recall what actually happened at the time and it isn't the point but that you pause because misogynistic and homophobic comments should equal bad but may actually just equal reality...

It's difficult to judge without knowing what his original comments were.

From an old BBC article it seems he has made some stupid comments, albeit a long time ago.

BBC

interview from 2018

He was a last minute candidate with a shock win so there was no expectation he would be an MP. It looks like he is in out of his depth with his cerebral palsy, autism and other mental health issues making him not well enough to cope with the demands of parliament.

Some more digging.

O’Mara’s derogatory language on the ‘Morrissey Solo’ website message board includes calling homosexuals “fudge packers” who “drive up the Marmite motorway”. He says gay people are “bitter and resentful about being homosexual”

homphobe

His sexist somments include:

Labour MP Jared O’Mara, who sang about “smashing” women “in the face”, called a constituent an “ugly bitch”, asked Girls Aloud for an “orgy”, said fat women don’t “deserve our respect”, talked about “taking your mum’s virginity” and “receiving fellatio” from Angelina Jolie, wrote about “sexy little slags” being “fingered” and told a woman “I’d lay on your rack any day”

(I've got insomnia, too much time on my hands to dig around online!)

Labour MP Jared O’Mara, who sang about “smashing” women “in the face”, called a constituent an “ugly bitch”, asked Girls Aloud for an “orgy”, said fat women don’t “deserve our respect”, talked about “taking your mum’s virginity” and “receiving fellatio” from Angelina Jolie, wrote about “sexy little slags” being “fingered” and told a woman “I’d lay on your rack any day”

He's clearly unwell. He's also clearly a creep, going by the above.

Not mutually exclusive whodathort.

This from The Times yesterday https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/crude-texts-of-jared-o-mara-in-sex-harassment-scandal-qp87dfbcw?shareToken=95a7545f33d6a65a1af7179ead6b29cb

The comments were disclosed by a 20-year-old employee of the MP who alleges that he has subjected her to a campaign of sexual harassmentnt_ that caused her “significant anxiety and stress”. Jennifer Barnes told The Times that Mr O’Mara, 37, pestered her with “wildly inappropriate” text messages and phone calls. He routinely made misogynistic comments, she said, once telling his staff that “people should call women c&&nts more often”.*

Sorry, messy formatting!

Ugh. I wonder why his constituents haven't petitioned to have him removed.

I wonder why his constituents haven't petitioned to have him removed.

Because they can't.

He hasn't done anything to trigger the ability to remove him. He hasn't met the criteria for potential removal.

He's effectively left his constituents without an MP or constituency office for months at a time on a couple of occasions now, and quite frankly that's totally inexcusable because of the impact on very vulnerable individuals that has.

The stuff about his views and treatment of staff comes second to that for me.

Even if he's unwell that's not an excuse. He has failed to provide an MP service to the area (which isn't just about him - it's having support staff to help him deal with public issues).

The man is unfit for office on a number of levels.

Whilst it's fair enough to say that Westminster and his former party should provide support to assist him due to his additional needs, he's just taken the piss with this and he's put his demands before the needs of his constituents. He could have a role in politics with the issues he has but being MP just isn't compatible.

I view it like someone in a wheelchair demanding to be a front line firefighter who then complains they are discriminated against because theirs no wheelchair access to the raging fire on the 8th floor. There is only a certain level of adjustment that can be done for certain jobs because of their very particular demands. There should be wider effects to help representation and opportunities for those people in related areas, but unfortunately there are some jobs that with the best will in the world, because of their nature and importance, some people just can't do because of their physical and mental limitations.

I really do hope the rumour is true and he quits because his constituents gave been utterly shafted. Any MP of any party would be better for them.