Mark Pack

Another one for the “how not to handle the media” file courtesy of Brent Labour MP Dawn Butler (she of the unhappy letter and the disappearing statement, not to mention the numerous expense issues):

AN ELEVENTH hour climb down saw one of the borough’s MPs back out of a face-to-face parliamentary briefing to explain expenses claims.

Dawn Butler MP for Brent South cancelled crisis talks with the [Willesden and Brent] Times at Portcullis House in Westminster by text message just as a reporter arrived at the Houses of Parliament for the scheduled meeting on May 21.

Ms Butler claims a prior engagement overran, but when offered a chance to conduct the interview over the phone, she refused to comment… (Source: Willesden and Brent Times)