A Labour MP who defeated deputy PM Nick Clegg at the elections says he is "ashamed" for making derogatory comments about celebrities.

Jared O'Mara made the remarks on a music site in 2004, before being elected as MP for Sheffield Hallam.

In comments posted on the Drowned in Sound website, he asked a girl group if they would like to "come have an orgy" and said that it would be funny if jazz musician Jamie Cullum was raped with his own piano and died.

He also claimed that 2003 Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus only won the talent show "because she was fat".

Image: He made the comments on a music site in 2004

He has now apologised, saying, "these comments were posted years ago, with no offence intended".


First reported by the Guido Fawkes website, the exposure of the comments has led to calls for the MP to be removed from the Commons Women and Equalities Committee.

One comment made on the music forum by the MP when he was 23 said: "Girls Aloud - I advise you to sack Sarah and the remaining four members (Nicola, Cheryl, Nadine and Kimberley) come have an orgy with me."

Another which referred to Jamie Cullum read: "It would be no great loss to the music world if he was sodomised with his own piano and subsequently died of a sore arse. In fact, it would be quite funny."

The same post suggested that singer Michelle McManus won Pop Idol due to her weight, writing: "Being a disabled person, I would hate to win something because people thought I was 'brave' or felt sorry for me, rather than for my superior ability/talent."

Mr O'Mara was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a baby, at which point his parents were told he may be in a wheelchair all his life.

How on earth did #Labour select him? Feel sure the ppl of #Hallam #Sheffield would have rejected him if they’d known of his past https://t.co/am1V4i7ic3 — Anna Soubry MP (@Anna_Soubry) October 23, 2017

Addressing his comments - of which he said he was "deeply ashamed" - Mr O'Mara wrote on Facebook: "I was wrong to make them, I understand why they are offensive and sincerely apologise for my use of such unacceptable language. I made the comments as a young man, at a particularly difficult time in my life, but that is no excuse.

"Misogyny is a deep problem in our society. Since making those comments 15 years ago, I have learned about inequalities of power and how violent language perpetuates them.

"I continue to strive to be a better man and work where I can to confront misogyny, which is why I'm so proud to sit on the Women and Equalities Select Committee.

"I will continue to engage with, and crucially learn from, feminist and other equalities groups so as an MP I can do whatever I can to tackle misogyny."

Image: Lib Dem Peer Lord Paul Scriven is calling for the whip to be withdrawn

Liberal Democrat peer and former leader of Sheffield Council Lord Scriven told Sky News he was "appalled" by the comments, referring to "an ugly nasty pattern now emerging".

He said: "This is a member of parliament who quite honestly his views on women seem to be in the Victorian age and not someone a young girl or a young boy back in Sheffield Hallam should be looking up to."

Lord Scriven said Mr O'Mara "should be resigning instantly from the Women's and Equalities Committee", adding that if he doesn't "Jeremy Corbyn should remove him."

Conservative MP for Broxtowe Anna Soubry wrote on Twitter: "How on earth did #Labour select him? Feel sure the ppl of #Hallam #Sheffield would have rejected him if they'd known of his past".

Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley Jess Phillips wrote on Twitter that she was "sad he said and thought it, I'm glad he's apologised", adding "I hope people are learning".

This is the second sexism row to rear its head for the Labour Party in just a matter of days, with MP Clive Lewis forced to apologise after a video emerged of him telling someone to "get on your knees b****", just last week.