MP’s ‘offensive’ remark sparks complaint letter from Keighley group (From Keighley News)

MP’s ‘offensive’ remark sparks complaint letter from Keighley group

8:00am Sunday 16th September 2012 in Keighley

A Keighley campaign group has criticised Bradford MP George Galloway for a comment it says targets disabled people.

People First, which is run by people with learning disabilities, is angry Mr Galloway used the term “window licker”.

The phrase was used as a derogatory term in the 1970s and was recently rated in a BBC poll as the third most offensive phrase relating to disability.

Mr Galloway, MP for Bradford West, last month used the term in a conversation on Twitter.

He later apologised, saying he was reacting to a Twitter user who was relentlessly taunting him.

Mr Galloway said he had meant to call the person a moron.

People First has now written to Mr Galloway to express its “anger and upset” at the comment.

They said: “We believe that as a Member of Parliament you should know better.

“Whether you knew what the phrase meant or not, it was used in an offensive and derogatory manner.”

The Keighley and Craven branch of People First is a reporting centre for hate crimes, particularly those against people with learning disabilities.