MP 'deluged' after phone number mistake

A FORMER minister has been "deluged" with calls from people seeking retirement advice after the Commons authorities mistakenly gave out his phone number.

The Westminster office number of Labour's David Cairns appeared on a letter sent out to parliamentary staff.

The MP for Inverclyde and former Scotland Office minister wrote on Twitter: "Commons HR department have mistakenly given out my phone number to people looking for early retirement. Deluged!"

The blunder was later confirmed by the House authorities who contacted Mr Cairns to apologise.

Mr Cairns later played down the incident, saying he was just being "whimsical".

He added: "People have been ringing up and we have been giving them the correct number. It's not a big deal really."