Taking the Rice: Gav (left) in trademark Tory black tie.
The ex-head of the Cambridge student Tory Party has been attacked after sending a hoax email to the Labour Women’s Officer – pretending to be a woman.
Former Cambridge University Conservative Association (CUCA) Chairman Gavin Rice, a member of Queens’ College, sent the bizarre email after the Labour Club (CULC), held a social in Trinity Vaults.
“Dear Josephine,” the email began.
“As a socialist sister I find the chosen venue of the Vaults as our women’s social to be far too expensive and elitist.
“It should not be assumed that we can afford drinks at £6-8 a time, and Cambridge students indulging in extravagant cocktails is contrary to our principles of workers’ struggle.
“If we can afford expensive drinks in cocktail bars then we should be donating the money to charitable causes or the Labour Party.
“Yours sororally, G. A. Rice”
The email sent by Rice pretending to be a woman.
George Owers, CULC Chair, called the email “pathetic and underhand”.
He pointed out that the event was held at The Vaults to take advantage of the 2-for-1 cocktail deal, which makes drinks cheaper than £3.
“Rice’s criticism is ridiculous, particularly given that most CUCA events require Black or White Tie and their annual dinners usually cost nearly £50” he said.
“It shows CUCA resorting to gutter tactics because they are so sensitive to their own reputation for real, vicious elitism and snobbery.”
At CUCA’s three-course ‘Chairman’s Dinner’ on Monday night, tickets for which cost upwards of £41, guests were served a main course of grilled breast of barbary duck with fondant potatoes, wilted greens and a port wine sauce.
Sela Motshwane, a female member of CULC, said: “I’m not sure what point Mr Rice was trying to make, but he really is a sad and moronic individual to have to resort to the childish tactic of pretending to be a woman”.
When initially contacted by The Tab Rice refused to comment, but an hour before publication he changed his mind, accusing CULC of incompetence, and questioning Owers’ decision to send The Tab a photoshopped picture of him dressed as Little Britain transvestite Emily Howard.
CUCA Registrar Callum Wood added a touch of comedy to the proceedings: “my sleep is regularly invaded by dreams of a womanly buxom Gavin who I could take up the aisle.”
“His actions and CULC’s response have only exacerbated those night-time fantasies.”
The photoshopped image of Rice sent to The Tab by Owers.
Rice said: “Describing me as ‘sad’ and ‘moronic’ was unnecessary but this might just be a lack of comedic taste / competence.”
He continued: “I used my own name and email address so this clearly isn’t a serious hoax. Moreover, I was no longer Chairman of CUCA when the email was sent, so this really isn’t a clash of political societies.
“Perhaps if student politicians took themselves less seriously then fun exchanges like these need not reach the level of press scandal. I would point out that CUCA has never released a press statement attacking CULC.”
About the photoshopped picture sent to The Tab by CULC, Rice said: “I found the image of me as an 18th century lady produced by CULC to be hilarious, and I think I’ve taken it in far better humour than CULC seem to have taken my joke email.”
Addressing Rice’s claim that the email was meant as a joke, Owers told The Tab: “if that’s his idea of a joke, then he really is a sad individual who needs to get out more.”
CULC Women’s Officer Josephine Brady added: “If Mr Rice is having problems surrounding his gender identity, I suggest he seek support at this difficult time.
“If indeed he has converted to the socialist cause, I offer my comradely greetings, welcome his support and look forward to receiving his application to join the Labour Party”.
When approached, John Oxley, the new CUCA Chairman, was unavailable for comment.
fucking socialist scum
(P) riceless!
I think "underhand" is inaccurate: signing the email G. A. Rice was incredibly over-hand.
Impersonating a woman is not funny or cool. You should be ashamed of yourself.
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by georgeowers: Cambridge Uni Labour Club scores another media hit against the Tory Association over hoax gender-bending email: http://bit.ly/b6WctN...
Gavin, you have apparently become "Top Toff" at Cambridge University. Southend High would be proud: you are a paragon of social mobility. What freedom and equality we enjoy in 2010!
"he really is a sad individual who needs to get out more"
says the man who spends all his time photoshopping pictures of his political opponents and thinking up new and ever more personal ways to have a go at them and get his name in the press. I suppose considering CULC's membership can be counted on one hand there's not much opportunity for social interaction. Shame, it might improve Comrade Owers' sense of humour.
In any case this recycled story about CUCA toffyness is getting a bit old. Yawn…
Just face it CUCA, you've been spanked by Owers again, you're just chasing shadows everytime with your own stupidity. You do it to yourselves.
Another reminder that e-mail sarcasm tends to end in a rather epic fail
Elitist?
His name is Gavin. Gavin?! Who the hell let a man named Gavin become head of the Tory association? This is beyond having a party leader named Dave.
Margaret will be rolling in her grave, god rest her soul.
That's a pretty mean thing to say. I can't be responsible for post- "Gavin and Stacy" associations. It's actually a largely Welsh name.
Margaret isn't dead.
Gavin touched me
I touched Gavin.
Who the fuck is Gavin Rice?
I think it is disgraceful and wrong that in this day and age people like 'Rice', if that is his real name, are allowed to peddle their filth over the internal email system of a first class uni. He has a case to answer. WTF?! What's it all about. Answer me that. I can't take much more of this.
This is hilarious! CULC are such tits.
that's actually quite a funny email
The real issue here is the overbearing Socialist narrivate force-fed to us by Mr Pal. Disgusting.
This Rice dude sounds like an absolute knob!
So is anyone who gets involved in Student politics, Chigbooo included.
They all need to get a life & stop trying to be old before their time!
This Rice dude sounds like an absolute knob!
So is anyone who gets involved in Student politics, Chigbooo included.
They all need to get a life & stop trying to be old before their time!
I'm really sick of the press knocking CUCA. Yes their sense of humour is weird but at least they've got one, CULC is full of self-contented sociopaths who have never seen Cindies from the inside (and that's the worst insult I can think of).
I bloody hate Labour.
CULC/CUCA story in the Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/feb/25/hu…
"my sleep is regularly invaded by dreams of a womanly buxom Gavin who I could take up the aisle"
I think it's spelt "arse"
hahahahhaha!
Thank goodness that there are students at Cambridge astute enough to see that this is scarcely a serious hoax, the object of which is to deliberately deceive – an object not best served by writing under your own name!! And it certainly didn't sink to the level of Mr Ower's characteristic personal insults and name-calling tactics. This was more of a parody, the essence of which "is the partial but not total imitation of the thing parodied, along with the elicitation of humour from the simultaneous occurrence of similarities and differences between the parody and its subject". To understand the meaning of a real hoax, perhaps Mr Owers might like to know there is a clear description of it in the Wikipedia article. Mind you, there are some difficult words in it — like "humour", "satirize" and "joke"…….
That's disordered. Why would I want to do that?
If Cambridge students are the "cream" I wonder which of these categories Owers fits into — single, thick, extra thick, whipped, sour?
I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF CUCA.
Frankly I couldn't give a damn about the email. I'm just outraged that someone in the Chair of CUCA doesn't have a name like James Fortescue Winthrop Smythe!
What is amazing about this story is that CUCA don't know the picture is from Little Britain – at least try and pretend you each own a TV instead of TV companies and other businesses.
Secondly, if you don't want to be slapped down in the press all the time don't set yourselves up like muppets. If you didn't sent the email it never would have happened, it's no one's fault but G.A. Rice's (not signed as Gavin in the email by the way and clearly trying to be underhand). His name will forever more in political circles be syninymous with a childish Tory boy trying to pretend to be a girl. That in most people's minds was done to yourself. You right wing morons should be blaming each other, not Owers for exposing you. You just can't help but load the bullets in his gun.
If that headline contained any more wordplay this website would explode.
This has convinced me that CULC are rediculous – Owers and co make thoroughly nasty and unecessary comments all the time, and the first time a gentle joke comes their way they throw a tantrum. Cambridge needs more fun and humour. The other parties try to provide that; CULC does not.
Thank you Joe for being absolutely correct. At least George Owers is brave enough to be clear about his identity when making comments. Excuses about this being a joke or not a hoax are nothing but embarrassed backtracking – it was signed G. A. Rice because the sender patronisingly thought the recipient wouldn't know who that was, and it was a secret, rude attack directed at one person, not a 'gentle joke' for everyone to enjoy. CULC voices worries about CUCA's displays of elitism out of concern to make a historically exclusive university more welcoming to all social classes – CUCA hits back because they are spiteful and childish.
If you're in any doubt that George Owers knows who G. A. Rice is, and that he could therefore pass this on, then I think you must have been living on another planet recently. The idea that it could possibly be a "secret attack" is so utterly ridiculous that it beggars belief that anyone could suggest it. Think about it. It insults his intelligence to imply that he could really think that he was hiding his identity — (do you honestly think it was a Homeresque slip-up– "D'ho!"), — and it insults your own to give the impression that you could be so gullible as to fall for it. Are you Cambridge students or what?!!George has done nothing but make vitriolic, spiteful comments very publicly about the Chairman and Cuca in general. If you want to know what rude is — just read some of his verbal attacks. The email merely echoed the kind of things that had previously been slung at Cuca — but clearly CULC can't stomach it's own medicine. As for "brave" — George has as much courage as anyone hiding behind a computer screen where you don't have to speak face to face with the victim of your abuse.
The e-mail wasn't sent to George Owers, who of course would have known who Gavin Rice was, it was sent to another exec member – one whom Rice obviously didn't think would recognise him. If Gavin Rice wasn't trying to hide his identity then why on earth did he pretend to be a woman, instead of writing perfectly reasonably as a member of CUCA who had a criticism to make of CULC? That would have taken real balls, something a 'sister' like 'Ms' Rice clearly doesn't have…
Because criticising CULC in a deliberated fashion would have caused the same press release and controversy without the comedy value. I SIGNED THE EMAIL AS MYSELF!
(C)rice(st)
I would have thought it was pretty obvious that the "exec" in question wouldn't have taken TOO much time in asking George Owers if he knew who it could be — you wouldn't exactly need the razor sharp mind of Sherlock Holmes to find out ! And I am certain that ALL the CUCA exec have heard of George Owers. His rude and extremely ungracious reputation precede him. Having meted out far more than his fair share of criticism to satisfy his somewhat unhealthy obsession with CUCA – sometimes under the pretence of a joke — he tried to suggest that he would be happy for CULC to be at the receiving end of such so-called humour. Completely blowing this out of proportion with such an OTT reaction just goes to prove that he most certainly is not. If only the CULC could see how perfectly humourless and petty-minded they are showing themselves up to be. Were it not so annoying it would be positively laughable.
"Little Britain"?! — Oh, so that's what passes as humour in the CULC ranks is it? That explains everything.
CUCA morons spanked in the press again today – they really are idiots.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/feb/26/hu…
I remember why I left Cambridge Labour Club after a term. What a waste of time, all for a few half-interesting discussions, lots of self-promotion, procedure and posturing, and having to put with a mob in blue who never had a clue about politics or society but enjoyed the spirit of some farcical partisan game.
Unfortunatley the Tories never understand that despite their efforts most things they say and do will always be funnier and tabs will jump on it. It’s not petty, you’re all just hilarious! The Sun would be proud of that photoshopping btw.
The fact is that George Owers acts like the playground bully — very fond of kicking out at others, but as soon as the boot is on the other foot, off he goes crying to teacher. That's why things he makes a fuss about end up in the press. There are no doubt things about him and what he says that could be brought to attention if anyone could be bothered, but I honestly don't think it is considered worthwhile creating these storms in a teacup like he does just to get press coverage to show him up.
The fact is that George Owers acts like the playground bully — very fond of kicking out at others, but as soon as the boot is on the other foot, off he goes crying to teacher. That's why things he makes a fuss about end up in the press. There are no doubt things about him and what he says that could be brought to attention if anyone could be bothered, but I honestly don't think it is considered worthwhile creating these storms in a teacup like he does just to get press coverage to show him up.
It amazes me that a Guardian journalist doesn't have more important/ serious issues to write about than the CUCA/CULC controversy with which he seems to have been so fascinated recently. I think everyone should consider the facts: Was it a real hoax? No. Was it secret or underhand? No. Was it a serious or abusive attack? No. Was it rude? No.Was it tongue-in-cheek.? Yes — to anyone with a modicum of common sense. Did it follow constant and vicious criticism from the CULC? Yes. What makes Owers think that he has the right to decry Cuca and everything they do with complete impunity , but then to react hysterically to a gibe aimed at the CULC.? They should be embarrassed to admit that they can't take it in such good humour as the Cuca Chairman has taken the photoshopped picture of himself sent to the Tab by Owers. Can someone remind me who exactly are the sad, childish morons?!…
I think that before accusations were made the following questions should have been considered: Was it a serious hoax? No. Was it secret or underhand? No. Was it rude? No. Was it a vicious attack? No. Was it tongue-in-cheek? Yes — to anyone with a modicum of common sense. Did it follow constant abuse from Owers? Yes. What makes him think he has the right to launch offensive and provocative attacks on CUCA and everything it does with complete impunity and yet as soon as a harmless, gentle gibe is aimed at the CULC he is entitled to react in an unbelievably hysterical fashion? An earlier comment asked why a criticism of the CULC couldn't have been written "perfectly reasonably as a member of Cuca". As if Owers would be prepared to listen to any criticism and respond rationally no matter how it was presented! Does this person actually know him?! The CULC should be thoroughly embarrassed and ashamed that they were incapable of taking this with as much good humour as the CUCA Chairman has accepted the photoshopped image of himself sent to the Tab by Owers. Can someone remind me just who it is that uses gutter tactics and is sensitive about reputation and who exactly are the sad, childish morons?
Actually that's not true. However, it would be patronising to suggest that a Cambridge-educated malicious hoaxer of a serious and malicious mind would attempt to cover his tracks via the employment of his initials rather than a pseudonym and use of his own Hermes address rather than a fake one. If one wished to make a serious point then presumably one would orchestrate a (boring) CULC-style press release rather than indulge in cross-gender email identity fraud.
Anyone reading the comments this far down, apart from myself and G.A Rice, obviously? No, didn't think so.
I'm not…..!