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David Mellor's Taxi Rant And 10 Other Recorded Political Gaffes

David Mellor's Rant And 10 Other Political Slip-Ups Caught On Tape
Ryan Barrell
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Secret recordings and undercover opponents have been hugely perilous for politicos ever since the Watergate Scandal poisoned Richard Nixon's career in 1972. Even when retired, people like David Mellor are always at risk from a sly iPhone, a forgotten lapel mic or a hidden camera when they're ranting or, heaven forbid, being truthful.

From a misogynistic joke by Godfrey Bloom to George Bush wanting Hezbollah to "sort their shit out", here are some of our favourite examples of politicians being caught on tape.

11 Political Slip-Ups Caught On Tape
David Mellor and the taxi rant(01 of03)
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Former Tory minister Mellor was caught on tape calling a cab driver a "smart-arsed little git" and a "sweaty, stupid little shit."

The cabbie passed a mobile phone recording on to The Sun, who splashed Mellor's aging gob across their front page.
Godfrey Bloom: "This place is full of sluts"(02 of03)
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Controversial UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom attended an event at the party's conference that was designed to promote the advancement of women in politics. And called them all "sluts".

After two senior female party members joked that they did not clean behind the fridge, as Bloom said it was where women belonged, he joyfully shouted: "This place is full of sluts."

listen to ‘Godfrey Bloom: 'This Place Is Full Of Sluts'’ on Audioboo
 (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
Jon Cruddas doesn't like Ed Miliband very much(03 of03)
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Ed Miliband's policy adviser Jon Cruddas was secretly recorded dissing the Labour leader this year. Twice.

Firstly, Cruddas remarked that Miliband was playing a "dead hand" at a supposedly 'semi-private' Compass meeting. Not long after, the Labour MP was caught by undercover Tories saying that his boss was being “gamed out” on a weekly basis.
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