Outrage over Tory's Blair suicide quip

Trevor Ivory made a comment on his website about Tony Blair committing suicide. Fellow politicians have expressed outrage.

30 May 2006 09:41

A Conservative leader has been criticised after claiming people would be better off if Prime Minister Tony Blair killed himself.

Trevor Ivory, the 27-year-old chairman of Norwich South Conservatives, made the statement on his website after giving his verdict on a speech Tory leader David Cameron made.

Mr Ivory said that Mr Cameron had argued in the speech that governments cannot improve people's happiness, and added: “I agree entirely, although I think that Blair's resignation and suicide might cheer his own party (and the rest of us) up a little.”

Mr Ivory today insisted he had not meant to cause offence and said: “This was a light-hearted reference to a scene in the TV series Blackadder Goes Fourth, intended to highlight the terminal decline in the public's trust and confidence in Blair. I am sure that it will be taken in the spirit in which it is intended.”

But the comment, hot on the heels of George Galloway claiming it would be “morally justified” for a suicide bomber to kill Mr Blair, sparked outrage from fellow politicians.

Liberal Democrat city councillor Hereward Cooke said: “I am quite horrified to hear any suggestion of that. It sent a shiver down my back.

“You could say that all is fair in politics, but each politician is just trying to do his best. They make mistakes, but nobody should ever wish personal animosity against any politician. I decry what Mr Ivory said about the PM.”

Norwich North MP Ian Gibson said: “Why doesn't he just grow up and start playing real politics? Why doesn't he shove off and grow up?

“If he wants to play silly games he can play them in the Conservative party. We live in a world where we are trying to make things better for people and don't worry too much about leaders fighting it out. We are a democratic party and changes will take place democratically.”

Green Party city councillor Adrian Ramsay said: “It seems unnecessarily insensitive to put suicide in there. “But in terms of calling for Mr Blair to resign, my view is that Gordon Brown or any other person taking over would not represent a change in policy direction for the government as they have all supported Blair in his policies.”

Norwich city council leader Steve Morphew said he was sure that Mr Ivory did not mean the suicide crack, but added: “He should have known better. I think he would be wise to take it off the website as soon as he can before it tarnishes the reputation of people trying to be sensible.”

Outrage was not confined to politicians. Evening News reader Simon Wright, of Ellcar Rise, Norwich, said: “Is this his expression of new compassionate Conservatism, or that of the same old 'nasty party' that we've come to know over the years?”

In 2002 Mr Ivory became chairman of the Norwich South Tories at the age of just 24.

Originally from Sussex, he studied at the University of East Anglia and became the youngest person to have held the position in the association. The married father-to-be works as a planning solicitor.

Mr Ivory's website is at www.trevor-ivory.blogspot.com

Ü Has Mr Ivory gone too far? Have you ever said something you've later regretted? Write to Evening News Letters, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, NR1 1RE, e-mail eveningnewsletters

@archant.co.uk or visit www.eveningnews24.co.uk

Email A Friend

News: Latest headlines on Evening News 24