Labour MP causes Twitter storm after claiming Tory leadership race will drag country 'back to the standards of a masonic lodge in Bury St Edmunds'

A Labour MP caused a storm on social media over the Conservative leadership race after saying 'the country will be dragged back to the standards of a masonic lodge in Bury St Edmunds'.

Jess Phillips, who represents Birmingham Yardley, yesterday tweeted: "Is there anything worse than a beauty parade of politicians saying stupid stuff to appeal to 100,000 ageing right-wingers.

"In the process of this leadership race the country will be dragged back to the standards of a masonic lodge in Bury St Edmunds."

Her post attracted nearly 3,000 comments with many defending the town.

Rev Simon Harvey, vicar of the parish of St Mary's and St Peter's, said: "I lived in Islington and had to contend with lazy assumptions about the place, usually from people on the right of politics.

"Now I'm in Bury St Edmunds and my hometown is getting the same from the left."

Town Cllr Darren Turner said: "As chair of the Bury St Edmunds Labour Party branch I hope your not attacking our town?"

We Love Bury St Edmunds! tweeted: "We ARE the jewel in the crown of Suffolk... whose crown? One of 3 belonging to King Edmund! Bury St Edmunds of course."

Tim Montgomerie added: "Among those “ageing right-wingers” are grans, grandads, senior citizens, volunteers, small business people, churchgoers, Rotary Club members, military vets, carers...

"Stop the ageism Jess...

"And there are 160,000 Tory members in total."

Pete Miller said: "You don’t strike me as the sort of lady who’s ever been to a Masonic Lodge in Bury St Edmunds."

In response, Jess tweeted: "I've never been to either but I'm sure that Bury St Edmunds is a fine place with fine people, it just has a name that I find adds a certain something to musings.

"In a weird twist, I'm now promoting Bury St Edmunds which I rigorously endorse regardless of no experience apart from a night out with the MP while away at the UN which lead to her forever becoming a woman of intriguing mystery to me."

After We Love Bury St Edmunds! posted that they held a party at the masonic lodge and had the Brotherhood of Man perform there, Jess added: "I take it all back and endorse the Brotherhood of Man for the Tory leadership."

Among those standing to be the next Conservative leader and Prime Minister is West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock.

Read more: Why West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock could be the one to watch in the race to become Prime Minister

To read an interview with Matt Hancock, pick up a copy of this week's Bury Free Press newspaper.