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Tory MPs send identical tweets in scripted attack on Lib Dem candidate

17th February, 2013 3:55 pm

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First the Twitter account @byelection (which is allegedly Tory Eastleigh candidate Maria Hutchings – or more likely CCHQ tweeting on her behalf) tweeted this:

tweet1

Then a bunch of super keen brown noses  on message Tory MPs decided to join in, using almost exactly the same words (they each omitted the word “that”):

tweet2

tweet4

Twitter-savvy Robert Halfron even added a hashtag to the pre-scripted tweet:

tweet3

At least Michael Fabricant changed a few of the words.

The Lib Dem campaign in Eastleigh might be in turmoil, but it’s still better than the Tory digital media strategy. At least now we know who CCHQ call if they want someone to cut and paste a text message into a tweet…

Update: Add Andrew Bridgen MP to the wall of shame fame:

tweet5

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  • NT86

    Not that I support the Lib Dems or anything, but this sounds like a desperate smear campaign by the Tories whose gaffe prone candidate is turning out to be a mixture of Sarah Palin and Julie Burchill. Seems that they should get their house in order first. I’m sure every other party contesting Eastleigh will have more than enough to say about Maria Hutchings.

    • Hamish Dewar

      “a mixture of Sarah Palin and Julie Burchill”.
      The mind boggles. Both women have qualities but few in common.

      • Monkey_Bach

        And what might be Sarah Palin’s “qualities” perchance? Eeek.

  • telemachus

    It is magic seeing the coalition partners tearing themselves apart.
    Sad our lead in the National polls will not turn into victory here but we can sure as hell make mischief.

  • JoeDM

    Seems to me a good tactic. It has made a splash and people now know the story.

    • Dave Postles

      Wow. He voted for something which is Conservative Party policy and the Tories have the audacity to make an issue of it. That’s a bummer. Let’s wait for the LibDems to remind the Tories that building on greenfield sites is precisely Tory party policy.

  • Alexwilliamz

    Have they not heard of the simple retweet?

  • Monkey_Bach

    This black propaganda copycat behaviour doesn’t surprise me. What would have surprised me would have been original or thoughtful behaviour exhibited by a individual member of the Tory pack. Liking surprises I continue to live in hope. Being a realist I expect to be disappointed. Eeek.

  • Hamish Dewar

    The story trending elsewhere seems to be the Labour candidate’s expressed regret that the IRA bombers didn’t kill Mrs Thatcher.

  • Hamish Dewar

    The story trending elsewhere seems to be the Labour candidate’s expressed regret that the IRA bombers didn’t kill Mrs Thatcher.

    • Dave Postles

      I believe it was John Ruddy who clarified that situation on LL, Hamish. Apparently he wrote in his book that the thought passed through his mind and he felt guilty that he had succumbed to such a notion. No doubt it will be distorted, however, by the parti pris press.

      • aracataca

        Correct Dave. Parts of this book are very funny especially the bits that he wrote about the Conference Arrangements Committees of Labour Party Conferences in the 1980s. The remarks he made about Mrs T were intended to be humorous. The remarks made by the Tory candidate about her son being an intellectual colossus and thereby far too bright for a state school were serious.

      • John Ruddy

        Yes, I find it helps that I read the whole book, and not just the bits the Daily Mail published. but then reading more than a sentence must be so difficult for some.

    • His refusal to move to the constituency if he wins hasn’t done him any favours – people are fed up with London oriented careerists.

      • aracataca

        The NHA party supports a noble cause Dave but why does every single candidate have to be a doctor or a consultant- can’t we have an occasional nurse or porter?

      • I think anyone who thinks John O’Farrell is a “London-oriented careerist” should have a bit of a closer look at his biography.

      • John Ruddy

        Surely it means he wont have expenses for a second home?

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