A councillor who inadvertently sparked a Twitter frenzy after making an innocent joke about England's Rugby World Cup exit has spoken about the "unfortunate" affair.
Councillor Stephen Speak, Richmond Council's cabinet member for transport, jested "I'm diverting England bus to Coventry" after England's 33-13 defeat to Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.
Just hours before the tweet, two people died in a devastating bus crash in Coventry city centre.
Coun Speak insists he was unaware of the tragedy but deleted his tweet and apologised immediately.
However, Twitter users seized upon the comment and Coun Speak faced a barrage of abuse, as well as calls for him to resign from Richmond Council.
Speaking to the Richmond and Twickenham Times, he said: "There was a tweet sent out by Twickerati saying 'taxi for England' and I replied saying I would get them a bus to Coventry.
"I was not impressed with the game and I had no idea about the crash in Coventry - I only got the news about 15 minutes later and deleted it straight away.
"It was the most unfortunate expression to have used."
Many social media users failed to understand the idiom 'to be sent to Coventry', meaning to deliberately ostracise somebody, and demanded an apology from the North Richmond councillor.
On Twitter, Tim Cadwallader told Coun Speak: "you should be suspended & sacked for your comments about the Coventry bus crash".
@North_Richmond you should be suspended & sacked for your comments about the Coventry bus crash this wont go away resign in disgrace
— Tim Cadwallader (@timcad28) October 5, 2015
@Emperorthe2nd wrote: "typical tory! Never welcome in my city".
@North_Richmond typical tory! Never welcome in my city
— Emperor the 2nd! (@Emperorthe2nd) October 4, 2015
Danni Crowter, using the username @ravingleftie, tweeted: "Still waiting for that apology, Cllr. You have a whole city to apologise to."
.@North_Richmond Still waiting for that apology, Cllr. You have a whole city to apologise to.
— Danni Crowter (@ravingleftie) October 3, 2015
The comments were also reported on the Daily Star and the Coventry Telegraph's websites.
Coun Speak said it was "really unfortunate that someone wanted to blow it up" and said an issue had been made out of something "that shouldn't have been".
He said: "People have jumped on it and caused a frenzy - it has gone out of control and there was no need for the upset caused.
"Neither of the journalists from the Daily Star or Coventry Telegraph has contacted me and didn't even copy the tweets correctly.
"There has been a lot of hostility over it - I have been called an arsehole, a dickhead, a moron and been told to leave my job.
"What surprised me more than anything was people from Coventry not knowing that expression, maybe it is a generational thing."
Coun Speak immediately apologised on Twitter, writing: "A huge error. I hadn't heard the news at the time and send my apologies.
A huge error. I hadn't heard the news at the time and send my apologies
— Cllr. Stephen Speak (@North_Richmond) October 3, 2015
"sending someone to Coventry is an expression. I am mortified that I used it given the tragic events that ocurred there."
@nicjayd sending someone to Coventry is an expression. I am mortified that I used it given the tragic events that ocurred there.
— Cllr. Stephen Speak (@North_Richmond) October 3, 2015
Leader of Richmond's Lib Dem opposition, Councillor Gareth Roberts added: "It's hard not to feel sympathy for Stephen.
"In spite of us being on different sides politically I've always found him to be a decent man, and one of the more reasonable members of the cabinet.
"I don't for one moment imagine that Stephen meant anything malicious in his remarks, it was simply appalling timing that they coincided with the tragedy in Coventry."
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