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Britain's Best And Worst Political Nicknames

Baldemort

The Huffington Post UK   Tom Huxley First Posted: 2/02/2012 15:05 Updated: 2/02/2012 15:15

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Muggles beware - Lord Baldemort is back!

Prime Minister David Cameron used this name during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday to refer to Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Liam Byrne. It is not the first time he has been blessed with this nickname, a play on the Harry Potter villain Lord Voldemort.

Nicknames are often used by politicians in order to belittle their rivals, but often they can have the reverse effect - elevating an otherwise unknown figure, giving them a narrative that they can use to define their career. For example, some would suggest that "Baldemort" might give the impression that, like his fictional counterpart, Liam Byrne could be a figure of immense power.

Here are Huffington Post UK's favourite British political nicknames.

Teflon Tony
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Former Prime Minister Tony Blair was known as "Teflon" because for a very long time, criticism never seemed to stick to him.
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Muggles beware - Lord Baldemort is back! Prime Minister David Cameron used this name during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday to refer to Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Liam Byrne. It is...
Muggles beware - Lord Baldemort is back! Prime Minister David Cameron used this name during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday to refer to Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Liam Byrne. It is...
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dkellyscotland
61 Fans
09:56 AM on 08/27/2012
Below should start 'I was told'
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dkellyscotland
61 Fans
09:50 AM on 08/27/2012
I was a long time ago (by a reasonably reliable source) that David Willetts's nickname was derived from 'The man with two brains, one for each face.', an HP in joke relating to his high opinion of his own intellegence and that he would do or say anything to advance his own interests.
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deckerdude304
44 Fans
01:01 AM on 09/19/2012
Seems about right then!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Edgar H
Keep the Press free!
93 Fans
11:13 AM on 07/08/2012
Balls up Ed and the Millikind are Blairs proud successors. Perhaps they'll destroy all records of their expenses as well.
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jankul456
31 Fans
05:19 PM on 02/05/2012
Dr. Tony Blair, the greatest UK Prime Minister ever! The best friend of common working man. British people need leaders right him right now.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Hugh Albert
Moderation in somethings
69 Fans
02:05 PM on 04/28/2012
It's a joke, right? You forgot to put in a smiley face and/ or lol.
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deckerdude304
44 Fans
01:03 AM on 09/19/2012
You did jest didn't you jankul456.....please tell us you were jesting there!
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oldtrout
25 Fans
06:58 PM on 02/03/2012
grease monkey is a better name for blair
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jankul456
31 Fans
04:16 PM on 04/28/2012
This world we live in now couldn't handle a real leader like Tony Blair . They just don'tmake them like him anymore unfortunately!
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Belthazor A
12 Fans
02:22 PM on 02/03/2012
Bliar known as teflon, not just because as in your article 'criticism' never seemed to stick, but an awful lot of murky stuff as well never seemed to fix to his coating either.
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Rednex
7 Fans
11:16 AM on 02/03/2012
'Teflon Tony'? What about hius earlier nickname as a barrister? It was Miranda. I'm not too sure why.
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