Newsuk newsuk politicsEd Balls Day

11 Times MPs Could Have Really Used The New House Of Commons Social Media Advice

Here's 11 Times MPs Could Have Really Used Some Social Media Advice
Aubrey Allegretti
|
Open Image Modal

When it comes to gaffes on social media, politicians have proved themselves no better than ordinary punters, and in many cases, worse.

Tirades on Twitter have led to shadow ministers being forced to resign, councillors ejected from their parties, and even whole days being created in honour of one miscalculated message.

Clearly the Commons has cottoned on to the dangers of letting MPs loose on Twitter, and so commissioned a 5,500-word report on how to avoid unnecessary blunders.

With such tips as 'never tweet while drunk!' and 'apply the 60 second rule and wait one minute before pressing the tweet button', these tips are sure to come in handy for our new parliamentary intake.

In lieu of its release, here's eleven times MPs could have really used some of that new social media advice.

8 Times MPs Could Have Really Used New House Of Commons Social Media Advice - Twitter Gaffes
Pickles on poos(01 of11)
Open Image Modal
Even if the former local government secretary had spelt 'shirts' right, this might still have been quite an embarrassing tweet. (credit:Twitter)
Compton causing controversy(02 of11)
Open Image Modal
Tory councillor Gareth Compton made this monumental twitter blunder after newspaper columnist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown questioned the human rights records of British politicians on a radio show.Compton was swiftly sacked from his party after being branded a racist. (credit:Twitter)
This travel tribulation(03 of11)
Open Image Modal
24-year-old Moray MP hopeful, Stuart Maclennan, appeared to forget on a regular basis that his job required the support of the general public, and that the general public generally don't like being called 'old boots', branding old people 'coffin dodgers, or... (credit:Twitter)
Maclennan mucks in again...(04 of11)
Open Image Modal
...big-upping the slave trade. It's not surprising he was dropped by Labour as one of their candidates just a month before the general election. (credit:Twitter)
Hackney MP's mishap(05 of11)
Open Image Modal
Abbott courted quite a deal of controversy with this particular tweet. But perhaps the most stinging repercussion was to gain support from George Galloway in the process! (credit:Twitter)
Blustering over 'Blackbusters'(06 of11)
Open Image Modal
Ex-Labour leader, 'I-love-racist-gameshows-Miliband, outed himself as a lover of 'Blackbusters' back in 2012 after the death of former TV presenter Bob Holness. (credit:Twitter)
Postal vote post poo-poohed(07 of11)
Open Image Modal
Labour MP Kerry McCarthy is unlikely to be chosen to be 'Twitter tsar' when running for the Bristol East seat in next general election. This post from 2010 shows she didn't have the sharpest understanding of electoral law. (credit:Twitter)
Shadow chancellor's slip(08 of11)
Open Image Modal
Labour's then shadow Chancellor sent this now world-renowned tweet back in 2011, back in the early years of his Twitter postings. Balls, attempting to search for posts containing his own name, inadvertently tweeted it out himself. April 28 is now known affectionately as 'Ed Balls Day'.
Thornberry's by-election boo-boo(09 of11)
Open Image Modal
This unfortunate tweet was sent while Labour's Emily Thornberry was campaigning in the Rochester and Strood by-election, famously won (although lost a year later) by Tory defector, Mark Reckless. The then shadow attorney general resigned from her frontbench position days later.
Monster mosque mistake(10 of11)
Open Image Modal
Ukip's South Thanet branch got a little confused back in December, after they incorrectly identified Westminster Cathedral as a mosque. "Perfect place to hold vote in front of a mosque in London. The BBC's random means selective," they wrote, bemoaning a straw-poll on the Daily Politics programme taking place outside the building.
Super seriousness scorned(11 of11)
Open Image Modal
When David Cameron tweeted this super serious photo of himself "speaking to Barack Obama", Twitter couldn't help but react with some masterful replies. Comedian Rob Delaney, national treasure Sir Patrick Stewart, and hundreds of other users chipped in with their own contributions. Take a look at some of the best here.
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip