Shipley MP Philip Davies has apologised to a constituent for a delay in replying to an e-mail after accusing him of ‘lying’ and being ‘pathetic’ on Twitter. Mr Davies received a tweet from @StoatsJackson saying: “My e-mail to my MP, Philip Davies, about today's #badgerdebate received no reply. But then I didn't expect a Tory to converse with a pleb.”

The MP replied: “Please don't lie – I reply to every email on this and every other issue people contact me about. Pathetic.”

The Twitter user @StoatsJackson later said: “A reply from @PhilipDaviesMP JUST arrived in my inbox, turns out I'm not a ‘pathetic’ liar after all. #badgercull.” Mr Davies replied: “I apologise and for the delay in doing so, but as I have demonstrated I always reply personally to all of my constituents.”