Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A NORTH MP was left red-faced last night after accidentally giving his support to National Fetish Day.

Organisers revealed Ronnie Campbell had promised to wear purple to support a day of awareness tomorrow.

But the MP for Blyth Valley, Northumberland, withdrew his backing after the Sunday Sun explained the kinky connotations of the word “fetish” which he was not aware of.

Mr Campbell revealed he thought “fetish” was just another word for “worry” instead of a description of people who get their kicks in unusual ways.

Fetishists include people who wear rubber and who indulge in bondage, sadism, and masochism.

When we told him, Mr Campbell said: “Oh my God almighty, my God, is that what a fetish is?

“I thought a fetish was a worry, like worrying about backing the right horse.”

His comments came at the end of an, at times, confusing conversation.

When we first spoke to Mr Campbell about National Fetish Day he said: “I think my secretary must have mentioned this.

“I have no problem with it and I am happy to show my support.

“I have a purple tie and a purple shirt so I will be able to wear their colours.”

We asked Mr Campbell if he had any fetishes and he said: “I must have a thousand but, hand on my heart, I couldn’t tell which is the most important one. Probably the horses.”

Realising we were speaking at cross-purposes we provided Ronnie with a definition of fetish provided by the campaign.

It said the word was a noun meaning a sexual interest in an object or a part of the body other than the sexual organs. It was then Mr Campbell withdrew his support.

Earlier the organiser of National Fetish Day 2008 explained how the MP had originally come to back the campaign.

The man, a keen member of the fetish scene in the region, is known on the circuit as Pierced Knight.

He said: “I received an email from Carol Delaney, the secretary to Ronnie Campbell, Labour MP for Blyth Valley.

“She confirmed that Mr Campbell will be supporting this national day of awareness on 21st January

“Using the tag line of “Perverts Wear Purple” those that support this day will be wearing about their person something that is purple, like a shirt, a tie, a skirt, a hair band.”

Pierced Knight said the colour purple was chosen because of its heavy use in BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, and masochism) circles.

Mr Campbell told us he was not aware of the “Perverts Wear Purple” slogan.

Pierced Knight added: “It is an irony that I as the organiser of this national event, cannot be outed as I hold a professional position that is at odds with the acceptance of people who choose to make different lifestyle choices. I am to kink what Banksy is to graffiti . . . and I’m in your back yard.”

The awareness campaign, designed to oppose pornography laws, has been heavily discussed on internet message boards including the Newcastle Munch. Munch is the internationally-recognised name for meetings of fetishists.

SUNDAY SUN SAYSPage 18

I must have 1000 but I couldn’t tell which is the most important . . probably the horses