Is James Cleverly the most gaffe-prone cabinet minister in historical past?

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James Cleverly has apologised for joking about spiking his spouse’s drink with a date rape drug at a Downing Street reception.

The house secretary made the appallingly unhealthy style comment about placing “a little bit of Rohypnol in her drink every night”, simply hours after announcing a raft of measures to crack down on the crime.

Mr Cleverly, who even remarked that it was “not really illegal if it’s only a little bit”, mentioned the feedback have been made throughout what was at all times understood as a non-public dialog. His spokesperson mentioned it was meant to be an ironic joke.

Rohypnol and Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) are the medication most incessantly used to spike victims and go away them feeling bodily weak, out-of-control, confused, or handed out.

But is Mr Cleverly the most gaffe-prone cabinet minister in historical past? The Independent has put collectively a listing of his most memorable mess-ups under.

“S***hole” constituency

In November, Mr Cleverly denied referring to a Labour MP’s constituency as a “s***hole” simply weeks after he was appointed as house secretary.

Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockton North in County Durham, alleged the remark was made by the Tory cabinet minister and demanded an apology.

The remark was mentioned to have taken place after the prime minister was challenged by Mr Cunningham on the stage of kid poverty in his constituency in northeast England.

Mr Cleverly’s spokesman mentioned: “He did not say that, and would not. He’s disappointed people would accuse him of doing so.” A supply near Mr Cleverly later claimed he referred to the MP as a “s*** MP”.

“Bats***” Rwanda scheme

Mr Cleverly was compelled to disclaim he known as his cabinet’s Rwanda scheme “bats***”. In November, Labour shadow house secretary Yvette Cooper informed parliament Mr Cleverly had used the phrase to explain the plan.

He repeatedly mentioned he couldn’t keep in mind saying “anything like that”. He informed Sky News: “I don’t recognise that phrase. The Rwanda scheme is an important part, but only a part, of the range of responses we have to illegal migration.”

In a special interview, on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he once more mentioned he might “not remember” having used the phrase.

The Government was working to dealer a brand new legally binding treaty on prime of the £140 million deal already struck with Kigali after 5 prime justices dominated towards the coverage.

Forgets job title in center of speech

In the identical month, Mr Cleverly appeared to neglect his new job title of house secretary as he was in the center of a speech.

The former international secretary was talking at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and National Police Chiefs Council joint summit when he mentioned: “I want you to feel that you can speak with me and my team at the Foreign… Old habits die hard”.

Blames disastrous mini-budget on Labour

In 2022, Mr Cleverly appeared responsible former prime minister Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-budget on the Labour Party’s “negative narrative” round the plans.

Attempting to pin the fallout over the funds on anybody however the authorities, Cleverly informed Sky News’s Kay Burley it was the fault of Labour’s negativity.

Forced to confess he ‘misspoke’ after BBC blunder

In 2022, former prime minister was beneath rising stress to make clear her place on the welfare system. Despite expectations Mrs Truss’s plans have been to be unveiled in a matter of weeks, Mr Cleverly mentioned plans could possibly be anticipated in the early a part of 2023.

The BBC later revealed the cabinet minister had reported he “misspoke” throughout the change and his revelations a few coverage announcement date have been in truth incorrect.

Reminded of Bank of England intervention

During the identical interview, BBC journalists reminded Mr Cleverly the Bank of England needed to intervene to save lots of the UK’s financial system following Mrs Truss’s mini-budget.

He was later compelled to confess “I’m not an economist” as he was grilled by Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain – the place he claimed the mini-budget was to not blame for Britain’s financial woes.