A NORTH-EAST MP has been branded a "red-neck" after he was mistaken for a controversial Australian political figure with the same name.

Grahame Morris, MP for Easington , County Durham, received a barrage of outraged messages on Twitter from Australian trade unionists, feminists and ordinary people in response to comments he did not make.

In a case of mistaken identity their anger was in fact aimed at Australian Liberal Party strategist Grahame Morris who called a female journalist a "cow" and was forced into apology after a furious backlash.

It is not the first time it has happened, as earlier in the year Australian Mr Morris was criticised for a comment about Prime Minister Julia Gillard that "they ought to be kicking her to death".

Responding to comments on Twitter, the British MP said: "Here we go again.

“Seems every time Aussie LibDem of same name says something offensive I get a load of abuse from the Antipodes."

In another message, he said: "Been through this before. I am the real @grahamemorris. The other is an antipodean imposter and very right wing."

The MP said it could be seen as a light-hearted case of mistaken identity.

But he added: "At the same time, while in the UK and globally we are going through this period of austerity I think it is very important that we defend the rights of the disabled, women and the vulnerable in society who are suffering the brunt of austerity in the UK and Australia."