Burnham-On-Sea’s MP told a girl to “f*** off” when she said she’d vote for independence if a second Scottish referendum was triggered.
James Heappey’s comment came as he addressed sixth-formers at Millfield School, according to national media reports in the Sunday Mirror and The Independent.
The Conservative, who is currently contesting the seat of Wells, which includes Burnham, asked the students for their views as they discussed the topic of Scottish independence.
When one girl said she’d vote to leave the UK, Mr Heappey says he quipped in a light-hearted manner “Well you can f*** off then.”
The teenager later discussed it with her father, who raised the matter with the school.
Mr Heappey told Burnham-On-Sea.com he has since sent her a written apology and insists he was joking.
He said: “I made a comment – intended only as a joke – but it was inappropriate and I am deeply sorry for any offence caused.”
“I wrote to the pupil soon after the school brought her concerns to my attention and apologised unreservedly.”
Tessa Munt, the Liberal Democrat standing against Mr Heappey, said: “School is meant to be a safe place. We send our children to school in the expectation that they will be treated fairly and with respect by people in positions of power.”
“I am utterly shocked that the then MP has used bullying, racist and abusive language to dismiss a teenage schoolgirl engaging in political debate.”
Mr Heappey was elected as Burnham-On-Sea’s MP in 2015 after working as a researcher for Conservative Liam Fox.
