Political Tweets

Andrew Bridgen and the Blackpool and Paris Brexit analogy

Political Tweets

Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire

What was posted

Andrew Bridgen compared calling a customs union Brexit with posing in Blackpool beside a sign welcoming visitors to Paris.

Original post on X Andrew Bridgen on X

Why it mattered

The comparison captured one side of a specific argument in 2019: whether remaining in a customs union would honour the referendum result. It compressed that argument into an image people could repeat.

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Craig Tracey and larry the cat considers his position

Political Tweets

Conservative MP for North Warwickshire

What was posted

Craig Tracey joked that Larry, the Downing Street cat, was considering his position.

Original post on X Craig Tracey on X

Why it mattered

The line borrowed the language of ministerial resignations during the final days of Theresa May’s premiership. It gave Larry a role in the speculation about who might be next to leave.

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Ed Miliband and the bacon sandwich comeback

Political Tweets

Labour MP for Doncaster North, former Labour leader

Tweet text

Yes

Ed Miliband answered a Twitter meme with a reference to the widely circulated photograph of him eating a bacon sandwich.

Original post on X Ed Miliband on X

Why it mattered

The photograph had become a recurring joke about his public image as Labour leader. Four years after the 2015 election, Miliband was using the joke himself.

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Faisal Rashid and the “vote early, vote often” tweet

Political Tweets

Labour MP for Warrington South

What was posted

Faisal Rashid used the phrase “vote early, vote often” in a message supporting Labour during the local elections.

Faisal Rashid biography

Why it mattered

The Warrington South MP apologised and said he had intended it as a joke. The response turned on how a familiar political catchphrase reads when it comes from an MP on polling day.

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Simon Hoare and the Northern Ireland bonfire tweet

Political Tweets

Conservative MP for North Dorset

What was posted

Simon Hoare posted a remark about loyalist bonfires in Northern Ireland that unionist politicians took as a slight.

Simon Hoare biography

Why it mattered

Hoare chaired the Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at the time. His position gave the remark a political significance beyond the exchange itself. He apologised for the offence it caused.

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Jo Swinson and the #HoldingTheCamera Question Time tweet

Political Tweets

Liberal Democrat MP, Deputy Leader

What was posted

Jo Swinson promoted an appearance on BBC Question Time with a selfie video and the hashtag #HoldingTheCamera.

Original post on X Jo Swinson on X

Why it mattered

The format echoed Rory Stewart’s hand-held campaign videos. The post was a playful reference to the way his leadership bid was being conducted online.

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Rory Stewart and the Kew Gardens invitation

Political Tweets

Conservative MP, Conservative leadership candidate

What was posted

Rory Stewart posted from Kew Gardens and invited anyone nearby to come and talk to him during the next hour.

Original post on X Rory Stewart on X

Why it mattered

Stewart was competing to succeed Theresa May as Conservative leader. This was a practical invitation to meet a candidate, with the location and short window turning a Twitter audience into potential participants.

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Caroline Lucas and the wrong Liz Truss account

Political Tweets

Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion

What was posted

Caroline Lucas tagged a private Twitter user with a similar handle while commenting on Liz Truss winning the Conservative leadership.

Lucas’s correction on X Caroline Lucas on X

Why it mattered

Other politicians made the same mistake, including Sweden’s prime minister. The account holder, Liz Trussell, played along while Lucas acknowledged the mix-up.

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Ed Miliband and the Basil Brush photo in Doncaster

Political Tweets

Labour MP for Doncaster North

Caption excerpt

Spot the difference

Ed Miliband shared a photograph with Basil Brush during a visit in Doncaster and invited readers to spot the difference.

Original post on X Ed Miliband on X

Why it mattered

The self-deprecating gag was one of several Miliband posts singled out by PoliticsHome in 2019. Here the photograph and short caption were the whole joke.

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Mark Garnier and the laughing gas typo

Political Tweets

Conservative MP for Wyre Forest

Excerpt

Delighted to see laughing to be banned

Mark Garnier welcomed a proposed ban on nitrous oxide. By leaving out the word “gas”, he appeared to say the government planned to ban laughing.

Mark Garnier biography

Why it mattered

The Conservative MP clarified that he meant laughing gas, a name for nitrous oxide. The wording had distracted from his argument about antisocial behaviour and harm to long-term users.

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