Kemi Badenoch has been urged to sack the Conservative Party's deputy chairman, Matt Vickers, over what Labour described as 'sickening' comments about the arson attack on Prime Minister Keir Starmer's family home. The controversy erupted after Vickers joked on TalkTV about the attack, which occurred just days after two men were convicted for firebombing Starmer's properties.
Vickers' Controversial Remarks
During an interview with Jeremy Kyle, Vickers suggested that Starmer was 'doing a pretty canny job of blowing himself up' and appeared to downplay any alleged Russian involvement in the attack. He also laughed along with Kyle's innuendo-laden remarks about sexuality. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy confronted Vickers at PMQs, accusing him of 'laughing along to homophobic remarks' and demanding an apology.
Labour's Outrage
Anna Turley, Chair of the Labour Party, called Vickers 'not fit to be an MP' and insisted Badenoch sack him. 'It is frankly sickening that anyone would seek to laugh and joke about an appalling attack on a fellow politician’s family home,' she said. 'To do so on the same day as we stood in unity to mark the anniversary of our dear friend and much missed colleague Jo Cox is beyond the pale.'
Lammy's Condemnation
Lammy told the Commons: 'Yesterday he was on television laughing and joking about the arson attack on the Prime Minister's home. Laughing about a firebomb targeting the Prime Minister and his family. Not only that, he joined with promoting conspiracies about the attack, and laughed along to demeaning homophobic remarks. He should be ashamed of himself.' MPs shouted 'shame' as Lammy spoke.
Background on the Arson Attack
On Monday, Russia-linked Ukrainian Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Romanian Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, were convicted of conspiracy to damage property. The attacks were orchestrated by a figure known as 'El Money' via Telegram, who offered Lavrynovych £3,000 in cryptocurrency for filming the blazes. A third defendant, Petro Pochynok, was cleared of conspiracy to commit arson. The attacks endangered lives and left householders terrified.
Conservative Response
A Conservative spokesman defended Vickers, stating: 'The content of the show, the way the interview's being conducted, that's a matter for Jeremy Kyle. Matt didn't say anything wrong in his commentary, and was trying to be polite to the host of the programme when he was being interviewed.' The spokesman added that the party's position remains clear: condemning the arson attack and wishing the PM and his family well.
