Steve Bray has been forced to make a grovelling apology to a Tory MP after making false claims about him.
The anti-Brexit protester claimed on Twitter that Marco Longhi was involved in the buying of the Crooked House pub near Dudley, which burned down in August shortly after being sold in a suspected arson attack.
The Dudley North MP engaged solicitors and Mr Bray has now made a humiliating climbdown admitting he was wrong.
In a pinned tweet, he said: “I recently posted a tweet which mistakenly claimed Conservative MP Marco Longhi was involved in buying the Crooked House Pub which burned down.
“I didn’t check my facts. I apologise to Mr Longhi if my tweet caused him any upset or distress.”
Mr Longhi told the Express: “This is the man who on Wednesdays is seen lurking around Parliament and harassing MPs.
“He is constantly bellowing out noise and shouting ‘Liar, cheat and charlatan’ – but it seems he must have been thinking of himself as much as anyone else.”
Mr Bray is known for his noisy anti-Brexit and anti-Tory demonstrations in Westminster.
He travelled up to the Conservative conference in Manchester where he gatecrashed a fringe event Ashfield MP Lee Anderson was due to speak out.
Mr Bray was forcibly ejected from the Bruges Group think tank’s meeting after making a foul-mouthed outburst.
His apology to Mr Longhi comes after there was an outcry when the 18th Century establishment in Himley, known as Britain’s wonkiest pub, burned down on August 5 before being demolished just 48 hours later.
Six people have been arrested in connection with the blaze and released on conditional bail.
Staffordshire Police said their investigation into the fire at the pub continues and urged anyone with information to contact the force.
