Tory MP deletes Jimmy Savile tribute tweet and claims his account was hacked

A Tory MP claimed that his Twitter account was hacked when it emerged that a condolence tweet to Jimmy Savile was deleted.

The day after a damning report about the disgraced DJ was published, Robert Halfon - MP for Harlow - erased the tweet which was put on the website soon after the star died.

But it was picked up by user @badladsplace who tweeted the MP.

Mr Halfon replied: "my twitter account has been hacked and have reported to twitter. I don't write such drivel"

But, that explanation has been met with some cynicism. badladsplace replied: "Oh @halfon4harlowMP You've only just noticed a Jimmy Savile tweet posted over 2 years ago by someone who hacked your account? Riiiiiight."

The MP later clarified the situation saying that he could not remember tweeting about Savile's death.

He said: "I simply forgot I had retweeted mail story in 2011.Because was put on my feed tday I thght was malicious.My mistake."