Political week on Twitter: March 26th – 30th
Twitter loves controversy, and this week there was no shortage (pardon the pun) of things to complain about – tax on pasties, a panic about fuel, and George Galloway.
Compiled by Oliver Hotham
As controversy grew over the increase on VAT on pasties, and George Osborne admitted that he wasn't a fan of Greggs, politicians went out of their way to show how down to earth they were:
Just tucked in to a delicious sausage roll from Greggs in the car with @edballsmp and @Ed_Miliband. Next stop Churchill Community Centre.
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— Rachel Reeves (@RachelReevesMP) March 28, 2012
Twitter rushed to defend hot takeaway food:
We now live in a country where caviar is untaxed and a hot pasty is.. go figure.#Pastytax
— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) March 28, 2012
Had a hot pasty for dinner. Two fingers to George Osborne. This is what is must have been like under Solidarity in Poland
— Tim Shipman (Mail) (@ShippersUnbound) March 27, 2012
For generations to come, people will ask: What were you doing in The Great Pasty Crisis of 2012?
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) March 29, 2012
Number 10 have put a statement out about a pasty. This is now OFFICIALLY a parallel universe. #NastyPasty
— Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) March 28, 2012
The potential for a fuel tank drivers strike led the government to be accused of telling drivers to "panic buy" fuel, a claim they denied. As people do when told not to panic, they panicked:
It takes a really unique sort of incompetence to create a national fuel shortage when there isn't even a strike.
— Matt (@mattzarb) March 28, 2012
Folks, There is no need panic buy #fuel. No #fuelstrike has been called and we will get 7 days notice of any strike. #keepcalmandcarryon
— Lymington Police (@LymingtonCops) March 29, 2012
Don't panic about petrol. It's only a fossil fuel, the use of which is rapidly destroying the planet. OK, now you can panic.
— paul bassett davies (@thewritertype) March 28, 2012
Maude: "There is no need for rushing around in mad dash" abt fuel.So we should panic in an orderly fashion?
— James Kirkup (@jameskirkup) March 28, 2012
Right I have to fill up the car today is there a t-shirt/sign/sticker that says "I'm not a panic buying lemming – I just need fuel"
— Matthew Pinsent (@matthewcpinsent) March 30, 2012
Controversial politician George Galloway was elected in a surprise victory in the Bradford West by-election. He celebrated with a triumphant tweet, where he may have neglected to mention the constituency he now represents:
Long live Iraq. Long live Palestine, free, Arab, dignified. George Galloway MP
— George Galloway (@georgegalloway) March 29, 2012
Twitter was ready and waiting with the cat and Saddam Hussein jokes:
Dunno about anyone else, but I salute George Galloway's courage, his strength, his indefatigability. #happymemories
— Helen Lewis (@helenlewis) March 30, 2012
George Galloway's election by the people of Bradford is NOT a rejection of traditional politics, it's just they're real cat lovers up there.
— Chris Addison (@mrchrisaddison) March 30, 2012
Maybe George Galloway won because local people wanted him as their MP. Just a thought #Bradfordwest
— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) March 30, 2012
The idea that George Galloway is of the left is simply ludicrous. We shouldn't excuse him simply because he criticises other hypocrites
— sunny hundal (@sunny_hundal) March 30, 2012
People in Italy have used self-immolation to express protest. People in Bradford West have gone for the more painful option.
— Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) March 30, 2012
