Labour MP To Tyson Fury: Let's Have Tea

Shadow leader of the Commons Chris Bryant has invited Tyson Fury "for tea" at Parliament so they can discuss the boxer's "issues".

The newly crowned heavyweight world champion has drawn widespread criticism for his views on homosexuality and women.

The 27-year-old was a controversial inclusion on the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) shortlist last week.

The BBC has so far stood firm over his nomination , but is coming under increasing scrutiny, including from Mr Bryant, who raised his concerns about Fury in the Commons.

The Labour MP told Sky News' Murnaghan programme that the boxer is not an appropriate SPOTY nominee.

"My real problem is that Tyson has equated homosexuality with paedophilia and actually that is a very dangerous equation to make because it means that we don't take child abuse seriously," he said.

"Actually, the vast majority of child abuse happens within the family and it's heterosexual.

"There is something deeply offensive about what he said, but it's not the offence I care about, it's the fact that we end up not taking child abuse seriously."

Mr Bryant then appealed directly to Fury to get in touch with him.

"Come to tea at the House of Commons and we can talk about your issues," he said.

Referring to a newspaper article where the MP said he wanted to go head to head with Fury, he said: "In part I'm joking about going head to head with him, but I think in politics it is possible to change people's minds."

In Parliament, Mr Bryant quoted Fury as saying: "There are only three things that need to be accomplished before the devil comes home. One of them is homosexuality being legal in countries, one of them is abortion and the other is paedophilia."

Mr Bryant told MPs: "Leaving aside the bizarre rather heterodox theology, this equates homosexuality with paedophilia."

The remarks come from a November interview with the Mail on Sunday. Fury later denied making the comments and claimed the quotes were made up.

In a statement to Sky Sports News last week, Fury denied being homophobic.

"I have homosexual friends and I do not judge them because of their sexuality. My comments that you may have read are of from the Holy Scriptures and this is what I live from," he said.

Fury has also been critcised for comments he made about fellow SPOTY contender Jessica Ennis-Hill in an interview with iFL TV last month.

When asked about the Olympic heptathlete, Fury said: "That's the runner isn't it?

"I think she's good, she's won quite a few medals for Britain, she slaps up good as well, when she's got a dress on she looks quite fit."

When talking about female boxers in the interview, Fury said: "I believe a woman's best place is in the kitchen and on her back, that's my personal belief. Making me a good cup of tea, that's what I believe."

A Change.org petition calling for him to be removed from the SPOTY shortlist due to his "homophobic views" has now garnered more than 65,000 signatures.

A BBC spokesman said: "The Sports Personality shortlist is compiled by a panel of industry experts and is based on an individual's sporting achievement - it is not an endorsement of an individual's personal beliefs either by the BBC or members of the panel."