What would you do if a Tweet offended you? Would you (a)
report it to Twitter, (b) block whoever sent it, (c) register your displeasure
with a Tweet of your own, or (d) report it to your MP? No, no, I’m not taking
the piss, would you report it to your MP? OK, no, you wouldn’t. MPs are not the
Twitter Police, and nor are they the law. But one of the Tory Party’s elected
representatives thinks otherwise.
Step forward (yes, it’s her
again) Nadine Dorries, who has indeed reported someone for allegedly causing
offence on Twitter on the grounds that she has received a complaint, and that
the offending Tweet originated in her constituency (it didn't). Have a
think about that: how would you know where a Twitter account holder lives?
Anyone know of another MP trying to police social media?
A Tweeter otherwise known as Mr Wood observed that Robin
Williams’ daughter had been hounded off the site, observing with deep sarcasm “Good work everyone”. The Fragrant Nadine
passed adverse comment and signed off “Thanks
for bringing to my attention”. Thanks to whom? We’re not told. “I have had a complaint and have [forwarded
it] to Twitter” she tells. Behold the self-appointed Twitter Police.
Owen Jones intervened to suggest this was “dark irony”. Ms Dorries was undeterred,
claiming “I don’t follow the account but
[the] Tweet [was forwarded] to me”. So we are expected to believe that a
member of the public has decided that Ms Dorries is the right person to whom
one should address a complaint about Twitter – and that she is otherwise
disinterested in the activities of Mr Wood.
However, and here we encounter a significantly sized
however, it will surprise no-one who knows the Modus Operandi of the Fragrant Nadine to know that Mr Wood is a
persistent critic of her actions. Moreover, as a taxpayer, he is be fully entitled so to be (you can see examples of his criticism HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE). So she
is not a disinterested party.
On top of all that, Ms Dorries has significant previous for
not only running to the Police on the slightest of pretext, but also lying
about the outcome: her claim that another of her critics received a Police
caution, repeated
in a Daily Mail article, was
untrue and therefore defamatory. And her recommendation of
malicious and untrue material is bang out of order (both posts were pulled
after legal complaints).
So when Alex Andreou suggests Nadine Dorries is “thick”, he misses the less pleasant side
of her character, as shown when the Mirror
took
an interest in her employment of one of her daughters as a secretary. The
threats of physical violence in response to a legitimate enquiry – it’s our money being spent – speak volumes.
One hopes that no taxpayer resources are being expended on her Twitter
campaign.
Nadine Dorries appears totally unfit to be an MP. That is not Mr Wood’s fault.
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