Mother of new Labour MP defends his age after minister Johnny Mercer's 'Inbetweeners' jibe

The mother of new Labour MP Keir Mather has defended his young age after a minister compared him to a character from The Inbetweeners.

Jill Tambarros insisted her son, 25, has "seen something of life" as she reacted to his victory in the Selby and Ainsty by-election.

Mr Mather won the North Yorkshire seat, a previous Conservative stronghold, by overturning a majority of 20,000

It is the largest majority ever overturned by Labour at a by-election and means the Oxford graduate will become the so-called 'Baby of the House' - the youngest member of the House of Commons.

Speaking to Sky's Ali Fortescue, Ms Tambarros revealed that when the result came in "I did scream my head off... My Apple watch went off the decibel scale".

Asked about his age, she said: "He does not appear to be like a 25-year-old - he's confident, he's mature, he's got a good head on his shoulders."

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Earlier, in a jibe about the Labour MP's age, veterans minister Johnny Mercer claimed Mr Mather had spent more time at university than he had in a job.

But Ms Tambarros insisted her son has had plenty of life experience - and tipped him for future prime minister.

"He's got experience in parliament with Wes Streeting and he's been working with the CBI as well so he's done a lot," she said.

"Plus he's done other things, like working in a cafe, working on the street selling paella, chopping up meat in a butcher's van, so he has seen something of life.

"And living on a student grant is quite hard as well so you really do have to budget, so it's not as if he hasn't ever done anything, so I think he's got a lot to offer. "

Asked if he could become prime minister one day, she said: "Why not? Never say never. He's 25, he's really excelled so far, so what's to stop him excelling further? He's got a lot of time to do it."

'He just relays Labour lines'

Mr Mercer has been facing criticism for the comments he made during Sky's overnight election coverage.

Asked by deputy political editor Sam Coates whether he welcomed "an injection of youth into parliament", Mr Mercer replied: "I think it's always good to get new people in politics, but I think we mustn't become a repeat of The Inbetweeners."

The Inbetweeners is a TV comedy series that was also made into a number of films, which follows a group of awkward teenage friends as they enter adulthood.

Asked what he meant by the comparison, Mr Mercer said: "You've got to have people who have actually done stuff. This guy has been at Oxford University more than he's been in a job.

"You put a chip in him there and he just relays Labour lines, and the problem is people have kind of had enough of that.

"They want people who are authentic. People who have worked in that constituency, who know what life is like, understand what life is like to live, work and raise a family in communities like theirs.

"I'm afraid I don't agree with this style of politics.

"It's exactly why people like me couldn't vote in the 2015 election, because you've got people with nothing to do with the constituency just dropped in - put a chip in them and they'll start parroting Labour Party politics."

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Mercer's comments 'disrespectful'

Later, the comments were put to Labour's Baroness Chapman, who accused Mr Mercer of being "disrespectful" to the people of Selby and Ainsty.

"There is such a thing as being gracious in defeat, Johnny," she said.

She added: "How rude are you today? You need to get some sleep."

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said the Conservatives "need to read the room", telling Sky News: "To name call newly elected members in parliament shows the contempt they have not only for the elected member but the votes too."

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Tory party chairman Greg Hands stopped short of directly criticising his colleague, but said young people have an important role to play in politics.

Asked if Mr Mercer's comment was inappropriate, Mr Hands said: "I think we should welcome young people in politics.

"We have a good range of MPs in the Conservative Party from young people in their twenties, all the way to older people also with amazing experience... But clearly there's also a role for young people to go into politics."