Keir Starmer slams Johnny Mercer for comparing new MP to 'The Inbetweeners'

The Labor leader has joked that Tory Veterans Affairs Minister Johnny Mercer will soon be 'history' after he mocked 25-year-old Keir Mather for being young as he won the Selby and Ainsty by-elections

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Johnny Mercer - "We must not become a repetition of the intermediaries"

Keir Starmer has called Tory minister Johnny Mercer a ‘stupid asshole’ after he mocked a new Labor MP for being young.

In a sensational by-election victory, 25-year-old Keir Mather overthrew a majority of 20,000 Tories to take Selby and Ainsty in North Yorkshire.

But in a TV interview shortly after, the minister took aim at the elected Labor candidate, who will be Parliament's youngest ever MP, comparing him to one of the 'Inbetweeners'.

While celebrating with Mr Mather today, Mr Starmer was caught joking that Mr Mercer would be out of work in the next election. The Labor leader said: "Last night there was an idiot on TV saying 'oh he's only 25'.

Keir Starmer hailed new MP Keir Mather for making history in the Selby and Ainsty by-election (

Picture:

Getty Images)

Mr. Mercer had suggested that Mr Mather must have worked and raised a family to "understand what life is like". He also suggested that he had "been at Oxford University more than he had had a job". The curator then referenced the hit comedy 'The Inbetweeners', which is about a group of clumsy teenagers.

Mr. Mercer told Sky News: "I think it's always good to have new people in politics. I think we shouldn't become a repeat of the Inbetweeners. You need to have people who have actually done things. This guy's been at Oxford University more than he's had a job. You put a chip in him and he's just repeating Labour's lines.

"The problem is that people are tired of that, aren't they? They want real people, people who have worked in this riding, who understand what life is; to live, work and raise a family in communities like theirs.

"I'm afraid I don't agree with that style of politics. That's exactly why people like me couldn't vote in the 2015 election, because you...