Jack Dromey is rebuked by Labour over 'pikey' comment After facing criticism online, Mr Dromey insisted that "Pikey" was a nickname used by Mr Martin's colleagues who had named him after a Dad's Army character. He later wrote on Twitter: "Don't panic, Mr Mainwaring. A Labour source said: "This is his nickname. It was a stupid choice of words. He should have realised that it could be open to misinterpretation and when he did, he clarified it. It's just silly, that's all he was, the episode serves as a salutary warning of the risks involved of using language on social media in particular nicknames. On Friday night Mr Morris wrote to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police asking for the tweet to be investigated as "a matter of urgency." He said "pikey" is a "deeply offensive word, and is a racially charged term due to its association with Irish travellers and Roma Gypsies." He added: "Mr Dromey is not only a high profile politician, but is also Shadow Minister for Policing. His tweets reach a wide audience, and he is in a position of some authority. Former Unite union official Mr Dromey has been prone to gaffes on the Twitter in the past. Last month it emerged that he added a Twitter link to a gay porn website to his list of "favourites." Ms Harman will be particularly frustrated with her husband's choice of words as she is a long-standing campaigner on equality and political-correctness. Twitter users compared the Mr Dromey's comments to Andrew Mitchell, the former chief whip, allegedly calling the policemen guarding the gates of Downing Street "plebs." Mr Mitchell, who denies making the comment, lost his position in the Cabinet after the comments were published in a newspaper and is still fighting to clear his name. Another user called HammyWheel wrote: "Disgraceful incitement to racial hatred there? Guy Birchall said: "Worse than calling a policeman a pleb.