THREAD: Last night on radio Verulam the MP for Hitchin & Harpenden @BimAfolami was asked about a joke he recently made about Covid in a Bright Blue discussion on 14th September. Bim's response was that he had simply "laughed along" with what the interviewer had said. 1/

@BimAfolami that is not true. You DID say something, and you DID make a tasteless joke. To claim otherwise is inaccurate.

Also, I wonder how the interviewer would feel at your suggestion?

So, just to clarify, here's what was actually said: 2/

Interviewer: "Again, Covid helping the levelling up agenda."

Bim: "Exactly. It was all a cunning plan."

[Look of horror passes across Bim's face].

Bim: "That's a... [puts hands up] that's a joke!"

3/

Interviewer: "Or a Cumming plan - a cunning, Cummings plan." [Bim leans back, throws his head back and laughs].

@BimAfolami instead of denying it, why can't you just say "It was an ill-judged comment, I regret it, and I'm sorry if it caused any offence." Why?

4/

We all say things we regret at times, perhaps make a silly joke when we shouldn't...

But @BimAfolami I think many of your constituents would have a little bit more respect for you if you were honest and showed a little humility.