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A TORY backbencher was today ordered by David Cameron to retract "ludicrous" claims that MPs' treatment in the expenses scandal compares to the plight of Jews in Nazi Germany.
David Wilshire, who is set to quit at the next election after allegations that he paid £105,000 from his Commons expenses to his own firm, said MPs were being subjected to a "witch hunt".
He used a letter to a constituent to declare: "Branding a whole group of people as 'undesirables' led to Hitler's gas chambers".
Mr Cameron today slammed his backbencher, telling the Standard his remarks underlined how some MPs failed to recognise public anger over the expenses affair.
"It's a frankly ludicrous thing to say and I think he should withdraw it. People don't want to hear MPs sounding off like that," Mr Cameron said.
Mr Wilshire, who is abroad, failed to respond to calls today. As he has already said he will stand down, the only other sanction open to Mr Cameron is to withdraw the party whip, effectively kicking him out of the Parliamentary party.
The MP, who represents the Surrey constituency of Spelthorne, is under investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.
After a meeting with Tory chief whip Patrick McLoughlin, he was forced to announce he would not be seeking re-election for his seat. Although he insisted he would be cleared by any probe, he accepted that he had to step down to spare any further damage to the Conservatives locally and nationally.
In his letter to constituents, he complained of being the victim of "false allegations" and insisted his property company was a "properly constituted business". He added: "This use of allowances to help an MP do his/her job is completely within Parliament's rules."
Reader views (24)
I might take Lord Snooty more seriously if he came down heavy on the likes of Osborne,Maude and Grayling instead of a few irrelevant old buffers.Which of course he will not.
- Colin, barking england
Pity really as he was a good MP, but he let greed get the better of him.
- Rhoda, staines, middlesex
Hyperbole is common to all politicians, so his comment isn't exactly beyond the pale, even if contentious due to the associated highly emotive history of the reference. I do question his interpretation of what is allowed as proper use of 'expenses' being applied to another job entirely from the public purse though.
It makes no difference which party offenders belong to, they should be subject to review by the law and suffer its consequences should they be found guilty of breaking it.
If there are no clear consequences then the lesson will not be made clear to the new influx of politicians in May and the problem will just continue. Legal action, when appropriate, is NECESSARY.
- Rogan, Irving
Sadly this man is not a mere buffoon.He has shown his true and reptilean nature by trivialising Hitler's crimes and equating them with the derision heaped on thieving public "servants".
- Peter Dickins, audierne
He was rubbish in Neighbours too.
- Kath Pryce, Luton, England
This disgusting cheat deserves to go now, not cream off a bit more til the election. If found guilty the Police should get involved - get the lot of them berfore the Courts - how can any party expect to get the respect of the electorate if they don't take robust action now not in a few months
- David, soton
What does he keep in those little pocketses? Resign now, and save your honour, if not your resettlement grant.
- S, London, England
The man was caught out and is now quite bitter, obviously his written exaggerations are as great and his expenses exaggerations.
- Keith, West London
Mr Wilshire has earned only contempt with these remarks. Politics will be better off without him.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK
the party whip should be withdrawn...and he should forego all financial entitlements he would get as a result of his 'retirement'
- Andy, london
Yet another example of the poor quality of current MPs
He ought to be very ashamed, but I doubt he has the intellect!
- Richard J Parker, Corbridge
This odious creep ought to have been sacked - NOT allowed to remain in post until the next election. When are these crooks going to be brought before the courts?
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK
The MPs get more than enough in salary to do their job. Its strange that they have the time to do other jobs on the side and do they claim expenses from these employers also. The whole thing has become a right racket.If they are capable of doing the job for which hey are elected then they dont need "assistants" and advisers etc.
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK
Let us hope this man has a long retirement in which he can take time to review just how bigger plonker he clearly is.
- Mike M, Bedford England
What a disgusting remark, let this be a warning to all those people who still think these out of touch tories are not the nasty party. The party is still crawling with right wing bigots who's real home would be the BNP.
- James Hennessy, Manchester England
Let's have an apology tax. I am getting fed up with everyone apologising for everything. Today we had an apology on the North London Line in case anyone might have been delayed by greasy lines when the train was exactly on time, followed by an apology in advance that the DLR might be delayed but it wasn't!
- Patrick, Dalston
Being allowed, on trust to take expenses that are wholly required to carry out ones duties as an MP is one thing. Taking money from the People for personal gain is another.
If MP’s cannot see what that really means, they never read their own rule book and do not understand the meaning of government by the People by the People.
It is disheartening in the whole Political Class as ruler’s concept, in that they still don’t get it.
- Ian B, Reading, England
What is it with these people? Is there some sort of syndrome you might call "holocaust-envy" in the world of victim wannabes? Do they have no functioning sense of perspective at all?
- Bloke, Lambeth
The more I hear from our MPs, the clearer it becomes that a significant number of them are stupid as well as venal.
- Jan, London
There is little to be said about such a man a this: shut up and pay up should suffice as it seems MPs are somehow beyond the reach of the law.
The head of any "hard pressed, hard working family" would be facing several months inside for such deceiptful actions.
- Richard Atkins, Worcester. England
The only reason this parasite is not stepping down now is so he can claim a full years expenses for winding down his staff and office. He should be sacked NOW.
- Steve, London
The man is an absolute shower as the late Terry Thomas would say. Like the majority of these M.P.s he does not realise that he has committed a crime. Come on Mr Policeman press some charges. These people are crooks and they should not get away with it.
- Mordwinoff, Lisle France
Politics will be a better place once he has disappeared into the wilderness. How did such a buffoon ever get elected in the first place?
- Dannyp, Egham
The only gas in question is the hot air coming from Mr. Wilshire.
- Rabbi Goldstein, London
