pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

The 10 biggest Twitter blunders by UKpoliticians

1.5k

SHARES

Shareon Facebook Shareon Twitter WHAT'S THIS?

World Follow 5.9MFOLLOW MASHABLE > Like 1.7m Follow 3.7m

MUST READS SOCIAL MEDIA MORE

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

BY AMY-MAE ELLIOTT4 DAYS AGO

From amusing typos to embarrassing @mentions, UK politicians have certainlykept Twitter ... interesting.

IMAGE: FLICKR, ALEX PROIMOS

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

As we head toward the UK's 2015 general election, we looked back at somefamous facepalms from British political parties and personalities.

SEE ALSO: 5 Things Managers Should Never Say Aloud

We've got some doozies, but our list isn't exhaustive. Have we missed a politicalTwitter gaffe that amused you?

Ed BallsWay back in April 2011, to the bemusement and/or delight of his Twitteraudience, Labour MP Ed Balls accidentally tweeted his own name.

Ed Balls

— Ed Balls (@edballsmp) April 28, 2011

The story goes that Balls was out shopping when, instead of searching for anarticle mentioning him, he entered his own moniker in the “What’s happening?”box and hit the fateful “Send” button.

A meme was born and "Ed Balls day" has been marked every year since, withTwitter users retweeting the original missive over 33,000 times. Even Ballshimself got in on the act last year:

Good grief.. Oh go on then.. RT @edballsmp: Ed Balls

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

— Ed Balls (@edballsmp) April 28, 2014

"Blackbusters"Labour Leader Ed Miliband had Twitter giggling into its collective sleeve in 2012,when a well-meaning tweet nonetheless made the politician look rather foolish.

Love this from @Ed_Miliband #Blackbusters pic.twitter.com/pGZsn7Th

— . (@_laticfanatic) January 6, 2012

Miliband was of course referring to UK gameshow Blockbusters, but Twitter wasmore than happy to take the typo and go for a "Gold Run."

Osborne's posh burgerBack in 2013, eagle-eyed Twitter users spotted a helping of irony from theChancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne's account.

While working late on a speech about the government's £11 billion spending cuts,millionaire Osborne attempted to cultivate a just-an-ordinary-Joe image with asnapshot of him eating a burger and fries at his desk.

Putting final touches to the speech #SR2013pic.twitter.com/jk3FYmqVnm

— George Osborne (@George_Osborne) June 25, 2013

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

Problem was, the food was identified as being from gourmet burger chain Byron,rather than one of the more budget options available close to Osborne's office.UK tabloid newspaper The Sun picked up the "Shamburger" story, accusingOsborne of making a "man of the people" blunder.

While Osborne defended himself, saying Byron delivered while more affordablechains didn't, even the chancellor's colleagues got in on the meme; portly EricPickles mimicked the pose with a more healthy salad option.

Putting final touches to the LGA speech #lgaconf13pic.twitter.com/ls9ZWDz3rM

— Eric Pickles (@EricPickles) June 27, 2013

@IDS_MPPrime Minister David Cameron was ridiculed back in the summer of 2013 whenhe @mentioned his secretary of state for work and pensions in a tweet aboutbenefit caps.

We're rolling out a cap on Benefits today - @IDS_MP and I aredetermined to make work pay, and help the UK compete on the#GlobalRace.

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) July 15, 2013

Nothing wrong with that, you might think. As it turned out, Iain Duncan Smith

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

wasn't on Twitter; the account Cameron mentioned was in fact a parody accountopenly mocking the senior Tory politician.

Cameron's phone "selfie"In the midst of the Crimean crisis, UK PM David Cameron took to the Twitterswith an action shot of ... himself. He looks very grave indeed, in conference withU.S. President Barack Obama.

I've been speaking to @BarackObama about the situation in Ukraine. Weare united in condemnation of Russia's actions.pic.twitter.com/7Rk2k8iOIK

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 5, 2014

Perhaps proving that you no matter who you are, you can't take yourself tooseriously on Twitter, comedian Rob Delaney soon spoofed the shot, adding asurreal twist with a tube of toothpaste in lieu of a phone.

What really got the meme going, though, was Sir Patrick Stewart, who joined witha tub of Wet Ones.

.@robdelaney @David_Cameron @BarackObama I'm now patched inas well. Sorry for the delay. pic.twitter.com/elLQcKcV3w

— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) March 5, 2014

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

A barrage of Twitter banter followed with various twists on the #davecalls meme.

Bingo!Technically, this is badly misjudged advertising rather than a Twitter error, but thebacklash was real.

After the details of the 2014 budget were revealed, Tory Party Chairman GrantShapps tweeted an advert celebrating some of the announced cuts.

#budget2014 cuts bingo & beer tax helping hardworking people do moreof the things they enjoy. RT to spread the wordpic.twitter.com/5vbL7RDAg5

— Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) March 19, 2014

People responded in an uproar at the "them and us" nature of the wording, alongwith the patronising assumption that the "hardworking" (translation: workingclass) all love beer’n’bingo. There were too many witty responses to mentionthem all, but we highlight this delicious parody from Duncan Hothersall.

I say, you there! #torybingo #Budget2014 #bingogatepic.twitter.com/vZNtDLI3dB

— Duncan Hothersall (@dhothersall) March 19, 2014

Cameron's grammar gaffe

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

Twitter taught David Cameron an important grammar lesson in April 2014.

It's unacceptable there's a loophole allowing paedophile "trainingmanuals", that's why I want to protect children by making them illegal.

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) April 27, 2014

In a message about a proposed change to the Obscene Publications Act, theBritish PM appeared to want to ban children. Detracting from the seriousness ofthe message, this of course prompted a raft of witty Twitter replies primarilysuggesting the PM was a little harsh on kids.

RemembranceThe much-derided, far-right British National Party gave its critics a welcome giftover the Remembrance Day period last year. Its official account tweeted:

"Remember to observe the #TwoMinutesSilence at 11a.m. today.Others mayforget but we remember. Please RT."

The "delicious irony" this was that the tweet sent on Nov. 12. The party laterapologised, blaming the error on a smartphone.

Sorry for late tweet on silence. Seems smart phones are not so smartsometimes!

— BritishNationalParty (@bnp) November 12, 2014

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

#RochesterLabour MP Emily Thornberry lost her shadow cabinet position over an ill-judgedtweet sent back in November 2014.

While campaigning in Rochester, Thornberry snapped a pic of a housedecorated with England flags with a white van parked outside. The caption simplyread, "Image from #Rochester."

Image from #Rochester pic.twitter.com/rOjTgpskmF

— Emily Thornberry MP (@EmilyThornberry) November 20, 2014

Accused of snobbery, the Islington South and Finsbury MP faced a Twitterbacklash from those surprised and disappointed at such an attitude from aLabour politician. Thornberry apologised, but then resigned from her position asshadow attorney general.

#ThingsThatAreNotMosquesIn late 2014, The BBC’s Daily & Sunday Politics show set up an informal surveyto ask if people thought the UK Independence Party’s Leader Nigel Farage hadwhat it took to be prime minister.

Has @Nigel_Farage got what it takes to be PM?

See how the balls fall in @reporterboy film on Tue #bbcdp after 1200

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pic.twitter.com/0rtIoW1KrK

— DailySunday Politics (@daily_politics) November 25, 2014

The response from an official UKIP branch account was priceless. The tweetcriticised the location of the straw poll, saying: “Perfect place to hold vote in frontof a mosque in London. The BBC's random means selective.”

The ornate building that UKIP mistook as a mosque was, in fact, WestminsterCathedral. This blunder prompted ridicule from the Twitter masses with thehashtag #ThingsThatAreNotMosques, helpfully pointing out other grand buildingsthat were also not Islamic places of worship.

TOPICS: MEMES, POLITICS, SOCIAL MEDIA, TWITTER, UK, US & WORLD, WORLD

Promoted Stories Recommended by

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

Get our hotteststories delivered toyour inbox.Sign up for Mashable Newsletters to getpersonalized updates on top stories andviral hits.

This Ex-Microsoft Exec WillNot Sleep Until HeReinvents InvestingBusiness Insider

Experts back FC-1 fighterjet nations with budgetissuesChina Watch

The C-Suite Has WelcomedThe New CDO, A PositionBound to Shake Things UpGE on Wall Street Journal

CNN Money: How YoungMillionaires InvestCNN Money

A Brilliant Way to Pay OffYour MortgageLendingTree

Want to Shoot a Deer?Don't Make these mistakes.McNett

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

EMAIL

SIGN UP

Load Comments

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

Pow ered by Livefyre

More in World

NEW RISING