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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics

David Davies, the 'Tory tornado': I'm not homophobic

Age: 42.

Who or what is the Tory Tornado? Boxer and Conservative MP for Monmouth, Mr David Davies.

And we're talking about him why? Because he has well and truly lived up to the name.

By being a whirling tower of wind, leaving destruction in his wake? Exactly.

What has he done? Angered anyone who values gay rights and then defended himself in the most laughable way imaginable.

What did he say? It all began when he told a BBC interviewer, on the subject of gay marriage: "I think most parents would prefer their children not to be gay, knowing most parents want grandchildren if nothing else."

That didn't go down well, then? Let's say people were unimpressed.

What was his defence? He said he wasn't homophobic and he could prove it.

Prove it how? With a video of himself punching a gay man in the face.

Honestly? Pretty much. He tweeted about it:

Just to calm people down. And it's far from the first time he's put noses out of shape.

Who else has he upset? Almost everyone. He accused the National Black Police Association of racism when invited to speak at their conference after apparently being mistaken for former shadow home secretary David Davis.

Brilliant. He also angered anti-boxing health experts by committing to spar with students at Monmouth comprehensive school.

And? And human rights activists aren't exactly fans either, after he was reported dismissing concerns that "something horrible" might happen to deported al-Qaida and Taliban members, saying it was "a bonus rather than a reason for not sending them back".

So he punches gay people and state-school kids, thinks the black police are the racist ones and wants the government to ship out prisoners for torture? Yep. He's a PR disaster. The clue's in the word "tornado".

Do say: "I think most parents would prefer their children not to be David Davies."

Don't say: "Some of my best knock-outs are children."

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