Broxtowe MP Anna Soubtry criticised for employing man involved in slavery row
BROXTOWE MP Anna Soubry has been criticised for employing a man who previously held up a sign saying "Bring Back Slavery".
The Conservative MP temporarily employed Craig Cox to help set up her office after she was elected on May 6.
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Criticised: Anna Soubry says 'there are more important things to debate'
Mr Cox hit the headlines in 2008 after holding up the sign at a "role-playing exercise" at a training session for student union officers at the University of York.
However, he claims he did not know what the sign said, having picked it up from the floor, and publicly apologised for it at the time.
Steve Barber, a Broxtowe Borough Labour councillor who used to work for former MP Nick Palmer, said: "William Wilberforce abolished slavery over 100 years ago and it's a shameful legacy that we have.
"Even to joke about that is appallingly bad taste.
"Anna obviously doesn't vet her staff properly when she employs them. If she was aware of this then she's open to every bit of criticism as Craig is."
However, Miss Soubry, who is only employing Mr Cox until tomorrow, said she knew it "wouldn't be long before Labour got hold of it".
She said: "He knows my view on it. He was about 19 at the time, he made a full apology for it. I know he regrets, hugely, doing something so stupid that upset other people.
"I've never hidden it, we would have thought there were more important things [to debate]."
Mr Cox, who has been involved with the party since he was 15, has previously worked for Francis Maude and Nick Herbert. He was also president of the Conservative Association at the University of Nottingham in 2007 and 2008.
He said: "I apologised at the time for holding it up but I didn't write it, it was written by somebody else.
"I completely condemn all motions of racism. It was held up by mistake and I was cleared unequivocally with no backlash. I'm gay myself and understand the sensitivity of minority groups, I understand how awful and painful it can be."
He explained people were holding up inflammatory signs as a "role-playing exercise", organised by the Student Union, and he accidentally picked up the sign thinking it was something else.
"If I could turn back time and rip it up I would," he said.
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by Sarah, Nottingham
Tuesday, September 28 2010, 12:37AM
“B Kent how has she not proved to be working hard?! Anna has been active on many key central issues both in Broxtowe and in parliament. To underestimate the work she has done so far after only a few months is I believe personally very insulting to Anna and her team.”
by Dave, Radford
Saturday, July 31 2010, 12:03PM
“btw John, Carlton - Cox was not found innocent - he was banned from attending NUS events.”
by Dave, Radford
Saturday, July 31 2010, 12:01PM
“Cox is running for Chairman of Conservative Future - just check out his hilarious video: http://theblueguerilla.blogspot.com/2010/07/criag-cox-launches-cf-bid.html
I think the main point here is that the Tories backed Cox all the way, at the time as well as now. These are the kind of values that Team Cameron has.”
by B Kent, Beeston
Friday, July 30 2010, 11:52AM
“I agree that the important issue is whether Ms Soubry works hard for her constituents. Sadly on this test she has so far failed to show any sign that she is the least bit bothered about the constituency.”
by John, Carlton
Friday, July 30 2010, 11:28AM
“hmmmm... theres nothing more important to debate than childishly hounding someone, who no longer employs somebody who was found innocent of doing something years ago.
I hope your constituents see where your priorities lie.”
by John, Carlton
Friday, July 30 2010, 11:23AM
“She no longer employs him so really whats the problem?
That surely means theres better things to debate. Or do you think this childish spat more important that serving your constituents.”
by Cllr Steve Barber, Beeston
Friday, July 30 2010, 10:01AM
“"There are more important things to debate":
When I, alongside Cllr Pat Lally were employed by Parliament and worked for Nick Palmer Miss Soubry made much of the fact that we were Councillors and Party political activists working for an MP. She pledged then that she would NOT emply Councillors, party activists or family members and put a leaflet to the electorate in Broxtowe to that effect.
Now that she has been found out breaking that pledge to the people who voted for her she decrees that there are far more important things to discuss.”
by Paula, Nottingham
Friday, July 30 2010, 9:13AM
“The important thing is that the MP works hard for principle but any work they do for constituents is motivated by a sense of justice.
Keeping up with what's happening, what's new:
(Wilberforce might himself have been implicated in slavery):
www.cathnewsasia.com/2010/07/22/wilberforce-also-had-slaves-researcher-finds/
and for anyone divorcing or leaving a civil partnership with a much richer person no longer has the civil right to find out how that person has squirreled away assets and present them to a court:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2010/jul/30/hidden-assets-divorce-appeal-judgmentd
When you get a way from the 'hooray henry' image of conservatism, for Anna as a woman and for Craig Cox as a gay man, it is important to go beyond the surface of what human rights mean because, before you know it they'll be gone.”
by Paula, Burton Joyce
Friday, July 30 2010, 8:27AM
“More important is whether women and monority groups will lose rights under the Con/dem govt. History is being reinvented through research all the time. Hope this researcher/worker for Ms Soubry will actt neutrally, dispassionately and with real empathy.
Cos in the news over the past few days:
a0 Wilberforce implicated in slavery, so rethink black and white view of abolition!
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/12676
B)Rich men who hide their assets prior to knowing they're getting divorced
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2010/jul/30/hidden-assets-divorce-appeal-judgmentd
are to be able to stop their wives from finding out what they're squirelling away and further any isuch information a woman wants to present will no longer be admissable in court.
Scary stuff for class and gender politics this, or is it really more to do with worthy rich men being given the kind of assistance the banks were to protect their earnings at a time of great uncertainty?
I hope that Anna and her worker get to grips with these issues as really, they'll be the first two groups who'll feel the effects of these kinds of moral backlashes against hard fought for rights.”
by Ted, Notts
Friday, July 30 2010, 7:56AM
“Who cares? Some people will bleat on about anything.”