This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30139832
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Labour's Emily Thornberry quits over 'snobby' tweet | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Emily Thornberry has resigned from Labour's front bench after sending a tweet during the Rochester and Strood by-election which was branded "snobby". | |
| The shadow attorney general apologised for the message, which showed a terraced house with three England flags, and a white van parked outside. | |
| Alongside the picture, she wrote: "Image from Rochester." | |
| The resident of the house said she was a "snob", while Labour backbencher John Mann said she was "out of touch". | |
| Dan Ware, who lives in the property, told the Sun: "I've not got a clue who she is - but she's a snob. | |
| "We put the flags up for the World Cup and will continue to fly them." | |
| He added: "I can't even remember when I last voted." | |
| The by-election was triggered when Conservative MP Mark Reckless defected to UKIP and resigned his seat to seek re-election. | |
| Mr Reckless won the by-election with 16,867 votes. Conservative candidate Kelly Tolhurst came second with 13,947. | Mr Reckless won the by-election with 16,867 votes. Conservative candidate Kelly Tolhurst came second with 13,947. |
| Labour's Naushabah Khan was third on 6,713, with the Green's Clive Gregory next with 1,692 votes and the Liberal Democrats with 349. | |
| Before the result was announced, BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the tweet had "given the Tory press an alternative narrative". | |
| He said: "It is the most extraordinary self-inflicted wound I have seen an opposition party inflict on themselves in many, many years." | He said: "It is the most extraordinary self-inflicted wound I have seen an opposition party inflict on themselves in many, many years." |
| And the BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said on Friday that the tweet "plays to a very, very dangerous theme" for Labour, namely the concern "that they are somehow dismissive, patronising, contemptuous of their own core voters". | And the BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said on Friday that the tweet "plays to a very, very dangerous theme" for Labour, namely the concern "that they are somehow dismissive, patronising, contemptuous of their own core voters". |
| Emily Thornberry | Emily Thornberry |
| The 54-year-old entered Parliament as MP for Islington South and Finsbury in 2005 and served as shadow energy and health spokeswoman before taking the role of shadow attorney general in 2011. | The 54-year-old entered Parliament as MP for Islington South and Finsbury in 2005 and served as shadow energy and health spokeswoman before taking the role of shadow attorney general in 2011. |
| The daughter of a former assistant secretary general of the United Nations, she was born in Surrey and was called to the bar in 1983, specialising in criminal law. | The daughter of a former assistant secretary general of the United Nations, she was born in Surrey and was called to the bar in 1983, specialising in criminal law. |
| She had a majority of 3,569 over the Liberal Democrat candidate at the 2010 general election. | She had a majority of 3,569 over the Liberal Democrat candidate at the 2010 general election. |
| Rochester and Strood: What's next for parties? | Rochester and Strood: What's next for parties? |
| How unusual is Rochester and Strood? | How unusual is Rochester and Strood? |
| 'Respecting voters' | 'Respecting voters' |
| Ms Thornberry is believed to have had two conversations with Labour leader Ed Miliband since posting the tweet. | Ms Thornberry is believed to have had two conversations with Labour leader Ed Miliband since posting the tweet. |
| A Labour source said it was during the second conversation she said she thought the right thing to do was resign. Mr Miliband agreed. | |
| In a statement released by the Labour Party, Ms Thornberry said: "Earlier today I sent a tweet which has caused offence to some people. | In a statement released by the Labour Party, Ms Thornberry said: "Earlier today I sent a tweet which has caused offence to some people. |
| "That was never my intention and I have apologised. | "That was never my intention and I have apologised. |
| "However I will not let anything distract from Labour's chance to win the coming general election. | "However I will not let anything distract from Labour's chance to win the coming general election. |
| "I have therefore tonight told Ed Miliband I will resign from the shadow cabinet." | "I have therefore tonight told Ed Miliband I will resign from the shadow cabinet." |
| Labour's Chris Bryant told the BBC: "The first rule of politics is surely that you respect the voters. | Labour's Chris Bryant told the BBC: "The first rule of politics is surely that you respect the voters. |
| "She was absolutely wrong to tweet what she did, and absolutely right to have resigned." | "She was absolutely wrong to tweet what she did, and absolutely right to have resigned." |
| He added: "All I can say is, if somebody came into my constituency and did that, I would be furious." | He added: "All I can say is, if somebody came into my constituency and did that, I would be furious." |
| Earlier, UKIP leader Nigel Farage tweeted: "What is Labour's Emily Thornberry trying to imply about Rochester and Strood? I suspect she's let Miliband's mask slip." | Earlier, UKIP leader Nigel Farage tweeted: "What is Labour's Emily Thornberry trying to imply about Rochester and Strood? I suspect she's let Miliband's mask slip." |
| Conservative Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith accused Ms Thornberry of "sneering at the electorate of Rochester". | Conservative Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith accused Ms Thornberry of "sneering at the electorate of Rochester". |