Brexit campaigner, MP Steve Baker, was accused of “hijacking” a non-political event and exploiting his position after parading a Vote Leave banner while on stage at yesterday’s historic weigh-in.

Politicians slammed the Wycombe MP following the stunt where he brandished an EU Referendum placard in front of a crowd of people celebrating the appointment of the new mayor of High Wycombe.

His role in the traditional event, which usually sees political views put to one side, was quickly called into question, with one fellow Vote Leave campaigner branding it as “disgusting” and labelling the Tory MP as “foolish”.

Independent councillor for Booker, Brian Pearce, said: “I think it was silly, wrong, this is non-political as it should be.

“For 20 years I’ve been trying to come out of the European Union, but I thought that was counterproductive and dare I say, bad taste.

“I respect the office of the mayor too much. It should be absolutely, totally, non-political.”

Mr Pearce approached the MP following the end of the mayor making ceremony to complaint, with Mr Baker later removing his Vote Leave badge and apologising.

Cllr Pearce said: “It’s a shame. It’s bad enough having the badge, but when I saw the placard, I was shocked.

“There are some things which are above politics and this is one.”

The MP was also told off during proceedings, with the town crier reminding him he was not in the House of Commons and should observe the good nature of the event.

Bucks Free Press:

Speaking to the Bucks Free Press after the event, where he also celebrated not putting any weight on in the last year, he said: “I did manage to give people the opportunity to jeer me in another way, with my Vote Leave stunt.

“As you can see I’ve taken the badge off now. That’s the thing with politics, sometimes you do just need to pull a stunt to promote an issue.

“And one of the great things about this is it’s not going to happen again.”

He added: “This year, we’ve got the opportunity to decide whether we want to leave the European Union, take back control, spend our money on our priorities, or whether we want to remain and continue to see power and money centralised overseas.”

High Wycombe campaigners aiming to convince people in town to vote to remain in the EU, also criticised Mr Baker for the showing, despite handing out ‘I’m In’ balloons to young children during the proceedings.

Leader of Wycombe Labour, Cllr Rafiq Raja, said: “I must admit, I think he may have done it as a bit of joke, but that was not the place for it. It’s a traditional event and we’re meant to leave politics out.

“There are times and places and he’s had plenty of opportunities. He’s the MP, he’s in the national media, he has had many chances to have his say already. He cheapened it a little.”

And, Liberal Democrat councillor, Ray Farmer, added: “I thought it was very unnecessary.

“We were there to celebrate the new mayor coming in and the old mayor going out at a traditional weigh-in which goes back hundreds of years and I felt it was absolutely awful.”

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