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.
Featured BASC given permission to bring judicial review of Defra decisionFeatured Concern over doctors’ health needs as legislation to regulate PAs and AAs introduced— 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