Jonathan Walker: Do MPs need Tweet rules?
Feb 19 2010 By Jonathan Walker
“Dc is simply a hypocritical vicious leader of the nasty party. Jeopardising justice while taking millions from Ashcroft #Toryscum”
That’s not my view, I hasten to add. This is the opinion of a member of the Government, expressed publicly using Twitter.
It was written by MP David Wright, who represents Telford and is a Government whip.
Or perhaps I should say that it was published using David Wright’s Twitter account. I assume that means he actually wrote it, but one can never be sure.
As you may know, he claims to have been the victim of somebody “tinkering” with his Twitter service, after apparently saying he had never voted Conservative because “you can put lipstick on a scum-sucking pig but it is still a scum-sucking pig”.
Following complaints about the language used, Mr Wright claimed somebody else had inserted the “scum-sucking” comment.
Clearly we must take him at his word, but to my knowledge Mr Wright has not denied sending a series of other messages which illustrate one of the pitfalls of using the internet – it often brings out the worst in people.
The comment above was sent on February 8. The hash sign in front of the word “Toryscum” is there to make the message easier to find for people interested in discussing the topic ie why the Tories are scum.
On February 8, Mr Wright argued publicly with a Conservative blogger, he asked: “Why won’t you answer my question? It is simple enough even for a right-winger”.
In a separate message apparently aimed at the same blogger, he said: “If it was a stupid question it was designed to match the intellect of your average Tory”.
Perhaps the pick of the bunch comes from January 27, when Mr Wright offered the following analysis of George Osborne, the shadow Chancellor: “Georgey Porgey looks like he is holding in a big fart”.
No doubt this is all rather tame compared to the debate heard in student union bars. But should it really be coming from a member of Her Majesty’s Government?
David Cameron has apparently ordered all his MPs and candidates to ensure their internet twitterings are vetted by party officials. He’s been mocked for this, but it does seem that some politicians just shouldn’t be allowed to use the internet without supervision.
