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| Labour MP Tom Watson sorry over Twitter 'imposter' | Labour MP Tom Watson sorry over Twitter 'imposter' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Labour MP Tom Watson has apologised after an intern sent a message on Twitter pretending to be him. | Labour MP Tom Watson has apologised after an intern sent a message on Twitter pretending to be him. |
| The tweet said: "I should log out of my twitter so that my intern doesn't twit-rape me..." | The tweet said: "I should log out of my twitter so that my intern doesn't twit-rape me..." |
| Shortly afterwards, the intern sent another message to say the West Bromwich East MP was in a meeting and apologising for "a terrible mistake". | |
| The MP and Labour deputy chairman also posted an apology, adding: "A lesson learned for a young intern." | The MP and Labour deputy chairman also posted an apology, adding: "A lesson learned for a young intern." |
| Following the exchange, the hashtag #SaveTheIntern began trending on Twitter. | Following the exchange, the hashtag #SaveTheIntern began trending on Twitter. |
| It is not the first time in recent weeks that Labour MPs have found themselves in hot water over their use of Twitter. | It is not the first time in recent weeks that Labour MPs have found themselves in hot water over their use of Twitter. |
| Hackney MP Diane Abbott also apologised after she wrote, ''White people love playing 'divide & rule'", in response to criticism of media use of "black community leaders" after the Stephen Lawrence murder trial. | Hackney MP Diane Abbott also apologised after she wrote, ''White people love playing 'divide & rule'", in response to criticism of media use of "black community leaders" after the Stephen Lawrence murder trial. |
| Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna said party leader Ed Miliband had "made it very clear in no uncertain terms that the contents of the tweet were unacceptable". | Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna said party leader Ed Miliband had "made it very clear in no uncertain terms that the contents of the tweet were unacceptable". |
| "If Diane believed the words as they were expressed and she had not apologised then Ed Miliband would obviously have taken the requisite action," he said. | "If Diane believed the words as they were expressed and she had not apologised then Ed Miliband would obviously have taken the requisite action," he said. |
| The first tweet from Mr Watson's account was sent on Thursday morning with a second later posted, reading: "My boss is in a meeting, i've made a terrible mistake, im very sorry everyone, it wasn't meant to be offensive! logging him off now! sorry!" | The first tweet from Mr Watson's account was sent on Thursday morning with a second later posted, reading: "My boss is in a meeting, i've made a terrible mistake, im very sorry everyone, it wasn't meant to be offensive! logging him off now! sorry!" |
| Mr Watson - who was Labour's minister for digital engagement under Gordon Brown - then sent a third message to say: "I sincerely apologise for the recent tweet. A lesson learned for a young intern. She's also very sorry. I will deal with the matter offline." | Mr Watson - who was Labour's minister for digital engagement under Gordon Brown - then sent a third message to say: "I sincerely apologise for the recent tweet. A lesson learned for a young intern. She's also very sorry. I will deal with the matter offline." |