Gay Tory Alan Duncan has apologised publicly and ‘unreservedly’ for the complaints he made about MPs’ pay following the expenses scandal.
Speaking with the BBC, he apologised for his remarks, before admitting: "The last thing people want to hear is an MP whingeing about his pay and conditions.”
Duncan - the only openly gay Conservative Member of Parliament - came under fire earlier this year after a video of himself on the House of Commons terrace leaked in which he claimed: “You have to live on rations and you are treated like shit." It is believed Duncan has repaid £4,000 of his own expenses.
His bad-tempered rant continued: "No one who's done anything in the outside world or is capable of doing such a thing will ever come into this place ever again the way we're going."
The shadow Commons leader has played a vital role in managing the Conservatives’ response to the scandal.
While speaking with the BBC, he continued: "It is a huge honour to be an MP and my remarks, although meant in jest, were completely uncalled for. I apologise for them unreservedly."
In response to Duncan’s initial claims, Secretary of State and Labour MP Peter Mandelson – who is also gay - publicly responded: "Alan Duncan is very fond of speaking a good game publicly but in private talking and acting quite differently, so I am not surprised he has been found out."