West Yorkshire Conservative candidate implies working class people can't go to Costa

Anthony Calvert, standing for election in the Wakefield constituency, tweeted about an encounter with a voter at Westgate Shopping Centre.

He tweeted the account of the run-in: "‘Man reconises me at #Wakefield Westgate [shopping centre]. “These f***** Tories, always looking 2 trample on t’working class, like me”. Man walks into Costa,’ he wrote.

His election rival Mary Creagh drew the knives, tweeting: "This sneering tweet sums up why Wakefield Tory candidate don't deserve your vote #standwithmary"

The most popular response, which had more than 2,000 likes on Twitter, was from @joelgolby, read: "ee, 'appen! what are t'poor folk like, eh! them's only allowed thems poor things: lard, dogs, and tory enforced misery."

Ms Creagh successfully defended her Wakefield seat at the last election but with a majority of just 2,613 which the Conservatives are hopeful of overcoming this time round.

Mr Calvert was also the Conservatives' candidate in Wakefield two years ago.

Responding, Mr Calvert said: "This tweet was sent several weeks ago and has only now been highlighted in an attempt to discredit me. "The tweet merely contains statements of fact and I wrote it to show how people involved in politics are unfortunately subject to abuse. Any other perception taken from the tweet was not intended."