A WAR of words has broken out after comments made in the County Gazette by the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Taunton, Mark Formosa.

In a his advertisement column last week, Mr Formosa commented on the attack on 83-year-old Kathleen Hutchings in her home in Taunton concluding: “If you think the thug who battered this elderly and vulnerable lady is in any way a 'victim' in society, then you can vote LibDems at the next election.”

The prompted LibDem Taunton MP Jeremy Browne to write to Conservative leader David Cameron asking for an apology.

Mr Browne said the comments were “highly offensive" and showed a “shocking lack of judgement and taste.”

Mr claimed the comment was a smear against the 25,764 people who voted LibDem in the Taunton constituency at the last election.

He said: “The irresponsible and exploitative behaviour of Mr Formosa will rightly be regarded by many of my constituents as deplorable.”

The LibDem leader of Taunton Deane Council Ross Henley said: “This is a despicable statement from a man who should now apologise.

“To make a political statement like this after this appalling attack which everyone says was a wicked heinous crime is appalling.”

Labour town, district and county councillor Andrew Govier of Wellington said: “If Mr Formosa really believes that if he were to be the local MP and his party were to be in power nationally an event like this could not occur then he is misguided.”

This week Mark Formosa responded: “My column was all about national crime and justice polices and was prompted by a very local and heinous example of what can happen when crime is not dealt with appropriately.

“Nevertheless, I am sorry if Cllr Henley and Mr Browne have taken my remarks as personal criticism of them, rather than as highlighting the fact that the LibDem party to which they belong is soft on crime.

“I am happy to respond appropriately to them if they care to get in touch with me, which they have not yet chosen to do.”

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