Wordpress Admin

June 2009 · Labour parliamentary researcher

What was posted

Lauren Edwards posted a disparaging comment about Estonians in June 2009, while she was working as a parliamentary researcher for Labour MPs.

Edwards’s 2024 apology on X · Lauren Edwards on X

Why it mattered

The deleted tweet resurfaced in August 2024, after Edwards was elected as the Labour MP for Rochester and Strood. She apologised for a series of old posts. Sky News reports the month and wording of this one, while PA’s coverage reproduces her apology.

Sources

• Sky News on the 2009 tweet
• PA coverage of the apology and her work in Parliament

Browse 2009 · Browse by party

11 January 2023 · Conservative · MP for North West Leicestershire

What was posted

Andrew Bridgen posted a comparison between Covid vaccination and the Holocaust.

Andrew Bridgen biography

Why it mattered

The Conservatives suspended the whip after the post. The Associated Press reported the party’s response, and Full Fact examined a separate vaccine claim made by Bridgen during the same period.

Sources

• UK Conservatives suspend lawmaker for vaccine misinformation
• Andrew Bridgen wrong to call mRNA vaccines gene therapy – Full Fact

Browse 2023 · Browse by party

14 October 2022 · Conservative · Chancellor

What was posted

Kwasi Kwarteng published his letter after Liz Truss asked him to step down as Chancellor.

Original post on X · Kwasi Kwarteng on X

Why it mattered

The dismissal followed market turmoil after the September mini-budget. The government’s published exchange records that the prime minister had asked him to stand aside.

Sources

• Liz Truss sacks Kwasi Kwarteng before corporation tax U-turn
• Exchange of letters between Kwasi Kwarteng and the Prime Minister – GOV.UK

Related tweets

• Dominic Raab and the resignation after the bullying inquiry

Browse 2022 · Browse by party

4 January 2012 · Labour · Shadow public health minister

Excerpt

White people love playing ‘divide & rule’

Diane Abbott used the phrase “divide and rule” in a Twitter exchange about how the media used the term “black community”.

Diane Abbott biography

Why it mattered

She apologised after criticism that her tweet had generalised about white people. The exchange followed the convictions of two men for the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

Sources

• Diane Abbott apologises over Twitter racism row
• MP sorry for Twitter race row

Related tweets

• Aidan Burley and the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony tweets
• Faisal Rashid and the “vote early, vote often” tweet

Browse 2012 · Browse by party

27 July 2012 · Conservative · MP for Cannock Chase

Excerpt

leftie multicultural crap

During Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony for the London Olympics, Conservative MP Aidan Burley criticised its portrayal of multicultural Britain in a series of tweets.

Aidan Burley biography

Why it mattered

The remarks drew criticism from his own party as well as from other viewers. David Cameron subsequently described the comments as idiotic. The dispute was about the picture of Britain the ceremony presented to a global audience.

Sources

• Olympics opening ceremony was ‘multicultural crap’, Tory MP tweets
• David Cameron: Tory MP’s attack on Olympic opening ceremony was idiotic

Related tweets

• Diane Abbott and the “divide and rule” tweet
• Faisal Rashid and the “vote early, vote often” tweet

Browse 2012 · Browse by party

26 June 2021 · Conservative · Health Secretary

What was posted

Matt Hancock posted a video announcing his resignation as health secretary after CCTV footage showed him embracing an aide.

Matt Hancock biography

Why it mattered

He acknowledged breaking the social distancing guidance. The video gave his public explanation, while a separate letter set out his resignation formally.

Sources

• ‘I’ve got to resign’: Matt Hancock steps down after breaching Covid rules – video

Related tweets

• Boris Johnson and the positive coronavirus test announcement
• Boris Johnson and the NHS thank-you video after leaving hospital

Browse 2021 · Browse by party

25 June 2020 · Labour · Shadow Education Secretary

What was posted

Rebecca Long-Bailey shared an interview with actor Maxine Peake and praised Peake in her tweet. The interview contained a disputed claim about police training.

Rebecca Long-Bailey biography

Why it mattered

Keir Starmer dismissed Long-Bailey as shadow education secretary that day. The decision prompted a dispute about how to treat a claim contained in an article that a politician had shared.

Sources

• Rebecca Long-Bailey sacking reignites Labour turmoil over antisemitism
• Rebecca Long-Bailey sacked after sharing article containing anti-Semitic conspiracy theory

Related tweets

• Heidi Alexander and the shadow cabinet resignation

Browse 2020 · Browse by party

26 May 2020 · Conservative · Scotland Office minister

What was posted

Douglas Ross shared his decision to resign as a Scotland Office minister over the government’s response to Dominic Cummings’s lockdown trip.

Douglas Ross biography

Why it mattered

Ross said he could not justify the government’s position to constituents who had followed the restrictions through serious personal difficulties. He was the first minister to resign over the episode.

Sources

• Tory revolt grows as minister resigns over Dominic Cummings’ lockdown trip
• Scotland minister Douglas Ross resigns over Government response to Dominic Cummings lockdown trip

Browse 2020 · Browse by party

12 April 2020 · Conservative · Prime Minister

What was posted

After leaving hospital, Boris Johnson posted a video thanking NHS staff. He singled out nurses Jenny McGee and Luis Pitarma for their care.

Original post on X · Boris Johnson on X

Why it mattered

This was his first public video since leaving hospital. Downing Street confirmed he was recovering away from work, and the message gave the public a first-hand account of his treatment.

Sources

• Boris Johnson leaves hospital as he continues recovery from coronavirus
• PM health update: 12 April 2020 – GOV.UK
• Coronavirus: Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Easter Sunday message in full

Related tweets

• Boris Johnson and “A fantastic year for Britain”
• Boris Johnson and the positive coronavirus test announcement

Browse 2020 · Browse by party

3 July 2025 · Independent · MP for Coventry South

What was posted

Zarah Sultana announced on X that she was leaving Labour and intended to help launch a party with Jeremy Corbyn.

Zarah Sultana biography

Why it mattered

Corbyn’s own initial statement said discussions were still ongoing. The announcement therefore records what Sultana said she intended to do at the time, before the new party’s arrangements were settled.

Sources

• MP Zarah Sultana says she will ‘co-lead’ new party as she quits Labour for Corbyn group
• Zarah Sultana MP to ‘co-lead new party’ with Jeremy Corbyn

Browse 2025 · Browse by party