An MP for the Conservative Party in Hartlepool has been accused of misleading Parliament this week, after she told the House of Commons that her office in the constituency was ‘besieged’ by asylum seekers looking to stay in the UK.
Who is Jill Mortimer? Tory MP takes on asylum seekers
Jill Mortimer’s speech has gone viral online, with many right-wing profiles amplifying the video. She claimed that her staff have been ‘intimidated by young men’, and declared that she wanted these people to ‘get out of Hartlepool’.
Her comments have sparked something of a backlash, and asylum-linked charities have chastised the senior Tory for her remarks. The Mary Thompson Fund has accused Mortimer of using language that will ‘increase racism and the number of hate crimes in the area’.
Tory MP’s claims about asylum seekers challenged
However, it now appears that her claims might not just be divisive – but also a tad embellished. This weekend, local media pointed out the fact that Jill Mortimer does NOT take any walk-ins, and the only way to access her office is by having a pre-booked appointment.
Her ‘available by appointment only’ status casts doubt on the claims she made in Westminster. Some disgruntled locals have also questioned how often Mortimer is actually present in the town, where she currently doesn’t run any surgeries.
Hartlepool predicted to vote Labour next year
The MP is yet to respond to these claims. With her character called into question, Jill Mortimer won’t find much comfort in the latest predictions for next year’s General Election. Figures released on Saturday show the Tory incumbent is now on course to lose her seat.
Mirroring the by-elections held in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth this week, the projections for Hartlepool show that their Tory MP is likely to be ousted by a Labour candidate. As it stands, Mortimer won’t be seeing much more of that office…