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14 May 2014updated 26 Sep 2015 8:46am

Labour MP Austin Mitchell seems to call Pfizer ‘rapists’ on Twitter

Female Tory MPs on Twitter are expressing their outrage at a bizarre tweet sent by Labour MP Austin Mitchell about US drug company Pfizer's proposed bid to take over AstraZeneca.

By Media Mole

(Photo By Mitchell appeared to be referring to drug giant Pfizer as "rapists". Photo: Getty)

Conservative MPs are calling for Labour MP for Great Grimsby, Austin Mitchell, to stand down because of a tweet he sent referring to US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer as “rapists”.

He was tweeting as the prime minister and Labour leader debated the company’s proposed takeover of the UK’s AstraZeneca during PMQs today.

Here’s what he wrote:

In April, Mitchell announced he’d be standing down at the 2015 general election, but there are now calls for the Labour Party to suspend the whip, due to his offending tweet.

Here’s what some Tories have been tweeting about the bizarre message:

 

 

 

 

 

Mitchell hasn’t explained his words yet, but one tweeter did question whether this was an “autocorrect fail”.

*** UPDATE ***

Mitchell has tweeted that he meant ‘rapaciousness’:

 But his claim that he muddled his words came too late to stop a Twitter spat between Labour MP Stella Creasy and Tory MP Claire Perry:
 

 

Ouch.

This mole thinks it’s a rapid rap over the knuckles for rapscallion Austin’s poor rapport…

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