London assembly member Tom Copley criticised for 'surly and mean-spirited' Royal Baby comments

A local politician in London has been branded "surly and mean-spirited" for his attack on MPs who made "stomach-churning" tributes on the birth of Prince George.

Tom Copley, Labour's housing spokesman on the London Assembly, criticised assembly chair Darren Johnson's motion of “loyal greetings” to the Queen and the royal family at the christening.

Mr Copley wrote on his blog: “Every so often we are subjected to the stomach-churning spectacle of Members of Parliament queuing up to offer tribute to the royal family upon some particular event or occasion...

“I had rather hoped that a much more modern body like the London Assembly could leave such displays of unctuous fawning and sycophancy to the experts down the river (a reference to the Houses of Parliament.)”

He maintained that he wished "any family well on what is a joyous occasion” but added that the Royal Family did not merit special attention when 650,000 London children lived in poverty. “Where are our priorities?,” he asked.

According to the Evening Standard, a Tory MP challenged Labour leader Ed Miliband to disown him.

Conservative Party vice-chairman Bob Neill said: “It’s a pity Tom Copley hasn’t got better things to do with his time than write such surly and mean-spirited drivel on his blog.

“On the positive side, this kind of dour killjoy attitude shows why republicanism has never caught on in the UK. You couldn’t get someone more out of touch with the public. I wonder whether Ed Miliband will have the guts to disown him?”