The Southern Daily Echo News Release

Clive Betts (left) with Jose Gasparo, male escort and one-time parliamentary assistant
Picture Copyright Newsgroup Newspapers Ltd 2006.

I bumped into a Labour Party activist today who wasn't very happy about my reporting of Alan Whiteheads free tickets for the world-cup. Apparently the major issue is Whitehead himself didn't ask for them! Well I'm always happy to put the record straight!

Letter to local paper reproduced below;

Dear Letters Editor

Following the revelation that Mr. Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton Test has been enjoying free football tickets and hospitality for the world cup from McDonald's, I have been asked to make a clarification.

In fact the tickets were obtained by Mr. Whitehead's friend and fellow Labour MP, Clive Betts in his capacity as Chairman of the Parliamentary Football Club and who Mr. Whitehead plays in goal for.

This is not Mr Betts first brush with controversy. Long-time Echo readers will recall Mr Betts was suspended from the House of Commons in July 2003 for his part in a bogus immigration application by his Brazilian male escort and lover that he then went onto employ as his parliamentary assistant.

Yours sincerely,

Matthew Dean

Officer without Portfolio
Southampton Test Conservative Association