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  1. Politics
16 September 2013

Tory MP Tim Loughton apologises after criticising Sarah Teather for failing to “produce“ a family

Former education minister claimed the Lib Dem MP was a poor families minister because she "didn't produce one of her own".

By George Eaton

Update: Loughton has belatedly apologised, while still bizarrely claiming that his comments were misrepresented by the media.

Conservative MP Tim Loughton’s repugnant suggestion that Sarah Teather was a poor families minister because she failed to “produce” one of her own has rightly been greeted with outrage. The Telegraph reports that the former Tory education minister told last weekend’s Conservative Renewal conference:

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The person who was actually in charge of family policy amongst the ministerial team at the DfE was Sarah Teather. Which was a bit difficult because she doesn’t really believe in family. She certainly didn’t produce one of her own. So it became a bit of a family-free zone. I think that is a huge disappointment.

But responding to criticism on Twitter, Loughton has refused to apologise, feigning disbelief at the anger he has attracted.

Unbelievably, he went on to blame “some journo” for “distorting my comments”.

If the Tories want this avoid becoming an even more toxic story, they would be wise to bring Loughton to heel now.

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