Tory Mayor defends decision to invite Michael Barrymore to citizenship ceremony

One for the “you couldn’t make it up” file, courtesy of the Barnet and Potters Bar Times:

The Mayor of Barnet has defended her decision to invite disgraced TV presenter, Michael Barrymore, to a citizenship ceremony this afternoon. [Yesterday]

Councillor Lisa Rutter said that she had met Mr Barrymore, who was found guilty of possessing cocaine in December 2011, at a dinner and that he had expressed interest in her work.

The mayor said: “I have no comment to make about his past. People deserve to carry on with their lives and to make amends.

“I just invited him as a guest to have a look and he was delighted to come.”