Vaizey apologises for Cameron gaffe (From The Oxford Times)

Vaizey apologises for Cameron gaffe

8:00am Monday 8th March 2010

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WANTAGE MP Ed Vaizey has said he had “no justification” for claiming David Cameron’s wife might not vote for him in this year’s General Election.

Mr Vaizey will be on television tonight seemingly indicating that Cameron’s wife Samantha had voted Labour in the past and could back Gordon Brown.

In a documentary, Cameron Uncovered, to be broadcast on Channel 4 at 8.30pm, Mr Vaizey tells interviewer Andrew Rawnsley that he would be “in a whole lot of trouble” for making the suggestion. But he said Mrs Cameron “might have voted for Blair”.

He added: “She would be going into this poll thinking: ‘Is Cameron the real deal or should I stick with Brown?’”

In the programme, Mr Vaizey, whose Wantage constituency neighbours Mr Cameron’s seat in Witney, quickly adds that his comments were “conjecture”.

In a statement yesterday, he said: “I am very embarrassed by this.

“I had no justification for what I said.

“The only thing I do know from seeing David and Sam for many years is that Sam worked night and day on David’s campaign in 1997 in Stafford and, as she said, has never voted Labour.”

A Tory party spokesman said: “Mrs Cameron has never voted Labour and never will. Complete rubbish.”

Mr and Mrs Cameron married in 1996, the year before Mr Blair first fought an election as Labour leader.

In 1997 Mr Cameron stood unsuccessfully as Conservative candidate in Stafford.

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