MP apologises to Merton student after email slur
Casper: "Insufferably Arrogant"
AN OXFORD student has expressed her dismay after receiving an offensive email sent to her accidentally from her MP's office detailing her alleged ‘insufferable' arrogance. Hannah Caspar, a biochemistry student at Merton College, wrote a letter to her Labour MP Ben Bradshaw in January to express general political concerns. She had claimed Bradshaw did not adequately represent the views of his constituents.
She also made reference to a speech he had made to her and fellow pupils when she was at Maynards Girls' School in Exeter during 2000 where they felt he had come across as a “yes man of Labour, devoid of unique thought.” However, the response she received was not what she was expecting. In the email which Bradshaw's PA, Lenny Shallcross, thought he was sending to his Colleagues, he made specific reference to her background. He wrote: “I don't know why this girl has annoyed me so much.
The arrogance is insufferable.” His concluded the message: “If you can suggest any sarcastic comments to add, [they will be] gratefully received.” Caspar told The Oxford Student: “At first I was stunned and couldn't believe it, I had to read the email several times. Then I was shocked and very hurt. It was a really personal attack.” When she emailed Shallcross to point out his mistake, he simply responded, “No!” making no attempt to apologise.
She expressed particular annoyance at his attitude, because she had written to Bradshaw about issues such as the Iraq War and foxhunting which she wanted addressing. “It isn't a point scoring contest,” she said. “You shouldn't try to skirt issues by belittling the sender. The email shows the contempt that his office has for his constituents.” She received a reply to her original letter the day after Shallcross' email, Bradshaw seeming to be entirely unaware of his PA's unfortunate mistake.
When she wrote to inform him of his PA's actions he sent her an apology which she describes as “bland”. Casper told this newspaper she felt “appalled by the reply.” When contacted by The Oxford Student, a spokeswoman for the South West division of The Labour Party declined to make an official comment.
17th Feb 2005