ASHFIELD: Journalists try to get hold of MP’s topless photos

In a statement on her website, Gloria said that she learned yesterday that a news agency ‘claiming to be acting on behalf of a national newspaper’ offered several thousand pounds to somebody in an attempt to get hold of the images.

The offer was apparently made to the owner of a building in her hometown of Bradford, who would have been paid for giving access to the building and given a further payment if the pictures were found.

In the statement, Gloria said: “I have talked about why I posed for these pictures in interviews before.

“I thought at the time it was a way of improving my circumstances. This is part of my story and part of who I am. I can’t change it now but this happened over twenty years ago.

“It is now time to call off the hunt for these pictures and let me get on with the job I was elected to do, representing the people of Ashfield and serving in the shadow cabinet.”

Gloria has openly spoken about the topless photos and why she posed for them.

She has recently been promoted to the shadow Cabinet in the role of Shadow Women and Equalities Minister.

She added: “I don’t think anyone wants politics to be open only to those people who were planning their political careers in their teens.

“I would like to see a politics that represents our country, including many more women from all walks of life, and that is something I am passionately committed to help bring about.

“No one should have to worry that something they did when they were young might prevent them from serving their community or getting involved in politics at a local or national level.”

The local Labour party in Ashfield has rallied round to support Gloria.

Ashfield District councillor Jim Aspinall tweeted: “As Secretary of Ashfield Labour Party @gloriadepieroMP, has our full and total support. She has and is doing a brilliant job for Ashfield.”