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Labour loser's parting shot

AN ousted Labour MP's parting shot was to splash his Lib Dem replacement's mobile phone number over his website.

Keith Bradley lost the Manchester Withington seat he had held for 18 years, in one of the biggest upsets of the General Election.

Now he has been accused of "sour grapes" after it emerged the front page of Mr Bradley's personal website details the name and mobile phone number of his victorious rival John Leech, and encourages people to call "AT ANY TIME".

Over a mock Lib Dem poster claiming the party would "give killers and rapists the right to vote", Mr Bradley's site reads: "Any constituents who need advice on any matters, then please call the new MP for the area."

MPs' mobile numbers are usually a closely-guarded secret, and a senior Labour party worker expressed shock when told by the M.E.N. of Mr Bradley's website.

Mr Leech, Manchester's first-ever Lib Dem MP, accused Mr Bradley of being "a bad loser" - but pledged to keep his phone number and answer all genuine calls.

"It is a bit childish," he told the M.E.N. "I haven't actually seen the website, but it seems like sour grapes to me because Labour have lost.

"You would think he had better things to do with his time than try to have a dig at me."I don't normally give out my private mobile to everybody, but I have taken some calls already in relation to casework and will deal with them as best I can."

Mr Bradley lost a 11,524 majority on a massive 17 per cent swing.

After the count, he accused the Lib Dems of running a "scurrilous" campaign that misrepresented his position on the Iraq war and falsely claimed the Christie Hospital could close.

Mr Bradley's website does not contain his own mobile phone number, instead directing inquiries his former constituency office in West Didsbury.

Ex-constituents are told that Mr Bradley's "support team" are able to "discuss issues" and "immediately get the details to Keith for a response".

The only number on the website is a general office line.

Mr Bradley last night defended the use of Mr Leech's mobile on his website.

"The only contact number that we were given for him was his mobile phone," said Mr Bradley.

"Constituents have a right to contact their MP. A lot of constituents rang me on my mobile."

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Oh dear oh dear oh dear. How pathetic Mr Bradley.

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While I did vote for Mr Bradley, I don't think I would have bothered if I had known he was prone to childish tantrums like this

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I think it's quite funny - Mr. Leech's mobile number used to be readily available on his own website, so it's not like it wasn't in the public domain anyway.

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Two clicks on Leach's web site and his mobile number is accessable to all.

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and these people ask us to vote for them!!
thats why most people dont give a monkeys who gets in power!!

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I don't see the problem. The website merely directs constituents to the new MP. Mr Leech claims that he doesn't give the number out to just any one yet he has posted it on the Withington Lib Dems website. Not really a very closely guarded secret!!!

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Mr Leach's mobile number was readily available on his old website, so it was already in the public domain.

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If you don't want people to call you on your mobile, you don't go around publicising it! Mr Leech's number is prominently displayed on the Lib Dem website!

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oh dear mr bradley - this is definitely sour grapes.

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