'Crass and offensive..' Black Country MP's anger over 'snobbish' tweet

Emily Thornberry found herself accused of implying snobbery towards a working class family in Rochester and attacking the grass roots of Labour party support.

Now Ian Austin, who recently came under attack for speaking out on Labour's 'mistakes' on immigration, has welcomed her resignation over the row.

"Her behaviour was crass and offensive and it was completely right that she resigned. She should have been sacked.

"We fly our national flags with pride in the Black Country.

"I campaigned for years to get Dudley Council to fly the Union Flag as a symbol of British values.

"It's outrageous that the London metropolitan elite can sneer at English and British patriotism."

Bill Etheridge, who is UKIP's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate in Dudley North, said he was outraged by the MP's tweet.

"It is typical of the Labour Party and these champagne socialists to cock a snook at somebody with a white van and an England flag outside their home because they have contempt for the hard working, patriotic, ordinary people of our country."

Islington and Finsbury MP Miss Thornberry said: "It was a house covered in British flags. I've never seen anything like it before.

"It had three huge flags covering the whole house. I thought it was remarkable. I've never seen a house completely covered in flags."

She later said in a statement: "I sent a tweet which has caused offence to some people.

"That was never my intention and I have apologised.

"However I will not let anything distract from Labour's chance to win the coming general election.

"I have therefore told Ed Miliband I will resign from the shadow cabinet."

However she later 'favourited' tweets in support of her saying she should not have had to resign.