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Emily Thornberry resignation: Father Dan Ware had no idea Rochester and Strood by-election was taking place

A Rochester father-of-four who found himself at the centre of a political storm over St George's Cross flags on his house has said he is baffled by the controversy.

Emily Thornberry quit as shadow attorney general following an angry reaction to a picture she tweeted from Rochester on Thursday as voters were going to the polls.

It showed Dan Ware's house with flags flying from it and a white van parked in the driveway and was captioned simply 'Image from Rochester.'

Dan Ware's house and van
Dan Ware's house and van

The image was criticised as being patronising, and the row features on the front page of Friday's Sun.

Ms Thornberry is a former University of Kent student who stood for Labour against Julian Brazier in Canterbury and Whitstable in 2001.

Announcing her resignation, she said: "Earlier today I sent a tweet which has caused offence to some people. That was never my intention and I have apologised.

The front page of Friday's Sun
The front page of Friday's Sun

"However I will not let anything distract from Labour's chance to win the coming general election. I have therefore tonight told Ed Miliband I will resign from the shadow cabinet."

Mr Ware, 36, who works in the motor trade and property maintenance, told the Telegraph the flags been on his house since the World Cup.

He said that he had voted Conservative at the 2010 election, and had no idea there was a by-election in Rochester and Strood that evening.

Dan Ware
Dan Ware

Asked about how he felt about Miss Thornberry's tweet, he said: "She is a snob - what has she got, a three-storey townhouse in Islington?"

Mr Ware who has lived in Rochester for 15 years said he was upset that his van's licence plate had been put on the internet.

He said: "She should ask first because the registration number is in the picture.

"I will continue to fly the flags. I know there is a lot of ethnic minorities that don't like it. They have been up since the World Cup."

For the latest from Rochester and Stood, click here.

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