Gordon Brown has personally apologised after he was caught on microphone describing a voter he had just met as a "bigot".
His apology was broadcast live on BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine show. Apparently not realising the radio interview was also being filmed, Mr Brown sat with his head in his hands listening to the tape being played back. He left the studio abruptly after the interview ended.
The incident began when Mr Brown was confronted on the campaign trail by Gillian Duffy, 66, of Rochdale. He had been issued a microphone after requesting one from Sky News 24. He spent almost five minutes answering her questions and ended the conversation saying: "It's been very good to meet you."
He then got into a waiting car, where the microphone picked up Brown telling an aide: "That was a disaster - they should never have put me with that woman. Whose idea was that? It's just ridiculous ..."
When asked what Mrs Duffy had said, he replied: "Ugh everything! She's just a sort of bigoted woman that said she used to be Labour. I mean it's just ridiculous. I don't know why Sue brought her up towards me."
Mrs Duffy said it was "very upsetting" hearing what Mr Brown has said.
"He's an educated person, why has he come out with words like that? He's supposed to lead this country and he's calling an ordinary woman who's just come up and asked questions what most people would ask him - he's not doing anything about the national debt and it's going to be tax, tax, tax for another 20 years to get out of this mess - and he's calling me a bigot."
She said she would not now be voting in the General Election. When asked if she thought Mr Brown would remain at Number 10, Mrs Duffy said:"I'm not bothered whether he does or not now. I don't think he will."
Gordon Brown returned to Rochdale this afternoon to personally apologise to Mrs Duffy at her home.
He spent more than 40 minutes inside, and emerged to state that he had misunderstood Mrs Duffy.
"I am mortified by what has happened. I have given her my sincere apologies," he said.
"I misunderstood what she said. She has accepted that there was a misunderstanding and she has accepted my apology."
