Labour MP Clive Lewis apologises for telling man to 'get on your knees b----"

Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

• Labour MP apologises after video emerges of him at a Labour conference event telling an unseen audience member to "get on your knees b----."

• Senior Labour MPs criticise Lewis for "unacceptable" and "offensive" language.

• Attendees at the event say Lewis was speaking to a man in the audience.

• Labour spokesperson says Lewis's comments "fall far short of the standard expected of Labour MPs."

LONDON — Labour MP Clive Lewis has apologised for using "offensive" language after footage emerged of him telling an audience member at an event to "get on your knees b----."

The MP for Norwich South made the remarks at a Momentum event on the fringe of the Labour Party conference in Brighton last month.

Lewis said on Friday: "I apologise unreservedly for the language I used at an event in Brighton last month. It was offensive and unacceptable."

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/921316678423732224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
WATCH: Brocialist Clive Lewis Tells Audience Member "Get On Your Knees B*tch" https://t.co/jOsSMzdePm pic.twitter.com/WjJHlqRQum

A spokesperson for Labour said: "The Labour Party condemns the language used by Clive Lewis. It was completely unacceptable and falls far short of the standard expected of Labour MPs."

In the video, Lewis makes the comment to an unseen audience member. Former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman tweeted "Inexplicable. Inexcusable. Dismayed."

A series of other Labour MPs joined in the criticism.

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/921340341197918209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Just seen the Clive Lewis video. Obviously I am appalled, just listened to 7 teenage girls speak up about gender inequality. Perhaps I'll bring them to work on monday Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/921346465586434048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Its not ok. Even if meant as joke, reinforces menace that men have the physical power to force compliance- time for https://t.co/YA2W2wME93. https://t.co/lvv0eoDiRA Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/921357413986521094?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Agree w Jess. No excuse for saying this, whatever context. https://t.co/Sq0krWTeBx

However, attendees at the event say that Lewis was speaking to a man in the audience. Guardian columnist Dawn Foster, who was on stage at the event tweeted:

Tweet Embed:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/921362856913891328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
For context, I'm stood next to Clive in this video - he said it to a male audience member in jest, not me https://t.co/QH4gAWCqPH

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