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5 September 2019 · Conservative · MP and minister

Excerpt

an unresolvable tension between family loyalty and the national interest

Jo Johnson wrote that he would leave the government and stand down as an MP, citing a conflict between family loyalty and the national interest.

Original post on X · Jo Johnson on X

Why it mattered

His brother Boris Johnson was prime minister and the government was facing a dispute over a possible no-deal Brexit. The personal language in the announcement made the political disagreement unusually visible.

Sources

• Jo Johnson quits as MP and minister, citing ‘national interest’
• PM’s brother Jo Johnson quits: ‘I’ve been torn between family and national interest’

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15 November 2018 · Conservative · Work and Pensions Secretary

What was posted

Esther McVey resigned as work and pensions secretary and published her letter opposing Theresa May’s draft Brexit agreement.

Esther McVey biography

Why it mattered

Her departure came on the same morning as Dominic Raab’s. The two letters showed how quickly the Cabinet agreement had given way to public dissent.

Sources

• McVey and Raab quit as May addresses MPs over Brexit deal
• Four resignations and a threat: Read the letters in full

Related tweets

• Jo Johnson and the Brexit resignation and second referendum
• Dominic Raab and the resignation over the draft Brexit agreement

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15 November 2018 · Conservative · Brexit Secretary

What was posted

Dominic Raab shared his resignation letter on Twitter after Theresa May’s Cabinet approved the draft withdrawal agreement.

Original post on X · Dominic Raab on X

Why it mattered

Raab was Brexit secretary, so his decision to leave gave the dispute particular force. The letter objected to the proposed terms, including the arrangements intended to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.

Sources

• McVey and Raab quit as May addresses MPs over Brexit deal
• Four resignations and a threat: Read the letters in full

Related tweets

• Jo Johnson and the Brexit resignation and second referendum
• Esther McVey and the resignation over Theresa May’s Brexit deal

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9 November 2018 · Conservative · Transport minister

What was posted

Jo Johnson announced he was leaving Theresa May’s government and called for another public vote on Brexit.

Jo Johnson biography

Why it mattered

He had been a transport minister. The resignation brought a second referendum demand from inside the governing party while May was trying to secure agreement on the terms of leaving the EU.

Sources

• Jo Johnson resigns as transport minister and calls for new Brexit referendum

Related tweets

• Dominic Raab and the resignation over the draft Brexit agreement
• Esther McVey and the resignation over Theresa May’s Brexit deal

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11 June 2024 · Conservative · Prime Minister

What was posted

During the election campaign, Rishi Sunak argued that people could spend their own money better than the government could.

Rishi Sunak on X

Why it mattered

The video promoted a Conservative case for lower taxes. Replies used examples of government expenditure to challenge the argument.

Sources

• Sunak tells the public they’re ‘better at spending their own money’

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26 June 2016 · Labour · Shadow Health Secretary

What was posted

Heidi Alexander announced that she was leaving Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet and put her resignation letter into the public debate.

Heidi Alexander biography

Why it mattered

She had served as shadow health secretary. Her departure came days after the EU referendum and was followed by a series of other shadow cabinet resignations.

Sources

• Heidi Alexander resigns from shadow cabinet – ITV News
• Labour crisis: how the coup against Jeremy Corbyn gathered pace

Related tweets

• Rebecca Long-Bailey and the Maxine Peake tweet and dismissal

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29 April 2024 · Conservative · Prime Minister

What was posted

Rishi Sunak promoted National Insurance cuts in a video using £900 as the example for an employee on average earnings.

Rishi Sunak on X

Why it mattered

The £900 example combined two reductions and depended on the salary used in the calculation. Other government statements applying the same figure to everyone in work drew fact checks. The distinction matters because lower and higher earnings produce different savings.

Sources

• Why does Sunak’s £900 tax cut claim keep getting fact-checked?
• Government rewards workers with record tax cut for 29 million – GOV.UK

Related tweets

• Rishi Sunak and the Lionesses World Cup final tribute
• Rishi Sunak and the private jet photo after the HS2 decision

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6 October 2023 · Conservative · Prime Minister

What was posted

Rishi Sunak published a photo from a private plane alongside a post listing transport, education and cancer care among his priorities.

Original post on X · Rishi Sunak on X

Why it mattered

It appeared after his government scrapped the northern leg of HS2. That timing made the choice of image a focus of criticism about how the transport decision was being presented.

Sources

• Rishi Sunak mocked for boasting about scrapping HS2 from private plane
• Revealed: PM filmed axing HS2 video days before announcement despite denying reports at conference

Related tweets

• Rishi Sunak and the Lionesses World Cup final tribute
• Rishi Sunak and the £900 National Insurance video

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20 August 2023 · Conservative · Prime Minister

Excerpt

You left absolutely nothing out there

After Spain beat England in the Women’s World Cup final, Rishi Sunak congratulated the Lionesses in a post that included an awkwardly worded tribute.

Original post on X · Rishi Sunak on X

Why it mattered

The phrase sounded like the reverse of the sporting expression he appeared to intend. The wording drew replies even though the rest of the message congratulated England’s players.

Sources

• Rishi Sunak sends Lionesses puzzling congratulations note
• Rishi Sunak jibed after saying England ‘left absolutely nothing out there’

Related tweets

• Rishi Sunak and the private jet photo after the HS2 decision
• Rishi Sunak and the £900 National Insurance video

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11 November 2021 · Labour · MP for Coventry South

Excerpt

Muslim women in politics shouldn’t have to tolerate this.

Zarah Sultana shared an example of racist abuse she had received after returning from bereavement leave.

Original post on X · Zarah Sultana on X

Why it mattered

Her post called attention to the treatment of Muslim women in public life. The linked reporting describes the abuse and the response from other MPs.

Sources

• UK Muslim MP targeted with racist hate mail amid bereavement
• Zarah Sultana sent abusive email which claims blackface is ‘British tradition’

Related tweets

• Michael Fabricant and the tweet about Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
• Helen Goodman and the tweet about new Conservative ministers

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