I am appalled by this story that I first saw in last nights Evening Standard.

I am amazed that a prospective candidate for public office and a former Labour Party election agent would use such unnecessarily offensive language in the public domain.

I don’t have a problem with anybody holding republican views; indeed I personally have some doubts about the relevance of the monarchy in the 21^st century.

I can foresee there being quite a debate about this institutions future when the current Queen passes away.

I do however have a problem with gross discourtesy towards a lady who has served our country with great distinction for many years.

Peter Whites outburst will embarress the Labour Party and will almost certainly see him removed from their list of candidates for the London Borough of Havering elections.

Given the strength of the BNP in that part of the world I am just staggered that a Labour Party activist would be so careless / insensitive / dumb to run the risk of alienating part of his traditional core vote by insulting The Queen.

Labour politicians have a history of using the word “vermin” carelessly.

Nye Bevan once famously called his Tory opponents “lower than vermin” in a speech, prompting the creation of the famous Vermin Club that numbered Margaret Thatcher in it’s ranks.

Peter White isn’t quite in the same league as Nye Bevan but I am sure that his party will count the cost of his outburst at the ballot box in South Hornchurch.