Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone on Friday called for the sacking of “half-wit” Australian MP Kelvin Thomson for insulting his daughter, Tamara, by calling her a “billionaire bogan”.
During a telephone interview with Melbourne radio station 3AW, Ecclestone said that the federal Labour party MP was “stupid” and that he should be fired for being “a bit of an idiot”.
BOGAN MEANS TRASHY
Ecclestone also questioned the Australian slang term “bogan”, which roughly translates as “trashy”.
“I didn't know what that means,” he said. “Does he speak English?”
Ecclestone said the term was more appropriate to Thomson, who had attacked him and his family during a speech in parliament earlier this week.
“Who was the half-wit who said these things? He should be fired because he's a bit of an idiot, he obviously doesn't know what he's talking about,” said Ecclestone. “You're not a communist state there are you?
“She does a lot more work for charity than Mr. Whatever-his-name has, believe you me, and given a lot more money to charity.”
Thomson had called for a debate on whether Victoria's tax-payers should continue to line the pockets of the Eccelstone family, or if the $Aus50 million (R400-million) spent on the Australian Grand Prix could be better used.
His speech referred to reality television show “Billion $$ Girl” that focused on Tamara's luxurious multi-million dollar lifestyle and the amazing gadgets installed in her London home.
These include an elevator for her Ferrari, motorised shoe racks for 200 pairs, a private bowling alley, a crystal bath worth more than $1.5 million and an in-house nightclub.
Thomson refused to apologise or back down.
“She's not some Greta Garbo saying 'I want to be left alone',” he said.
But Ecclestone said: “Any money my children have got they didn't steal, any money I've made I didn't steal, that's where they've got money from and they can spend it in any way they want.”
He also told 3AW that it was too early to speculate on the future of the Australian Grand Prix, which opens the 2012 season in Melbourne on Sunday, beyond its current contract that ends in 2015.
“We don't have to make a commitment yet,” he said. “The world changes so fast.”