Greg Hands and Ian Austin come to blows on the final night before Parliament recess
As news broke of David Miliband’s resignation as MP on Wednesday night, Tory MP Greg Hands and Labour MP Ian Austin had a spat on Twitter.
It all kicked off after Hands, Tory MP for Chelsea and Fulham, tweeted about the resignation of Labour MP Ian Mearns, who quit last week as aide to Ivan Lewis, saying that it “marks the latest 2010 David Miliband supporter to leave”.
Austin, Labour MP for Dudley North, shot back at Hands for his “very stupid witherings” about the Labour front bench. “What a fool Greg Hands is, you idiot. He resigned because he thought the leadership stance was too right wing! You incoherent moron. Grow up,” he added on Twitter.
Even by @greghands’ cretinous standards, his witherings about labour front bench really are very stupid
— Ian Austin (@IanAustinMP) March 26, 2013
“I’m not sure whether his stupidity outweighs his unpleaseantness”, Austin continued.
I’m not sure whether @greghands’s stupidity outweighs his unpleasantness.
— Ian Austin (@IanAustinMP) March 26, 2013
With the Twitter exchange happening on the final day of the Parliamentary term before MPs broke up for Parliamentary recess until mid-April, Hands shot back: “Last day of term Ian, you been celebrating?”
What a fool @greghands is. You idiot. He resigned because he thought the leadership stance was too right wing! You incoherent moron. Grow up
— Ian Austin (@IanAustinMP) March 26, 2013
Austin bridled at the suggestion in his riposte: “No. My stone cold sober assessment of you is that you are one of the most stupid and unpleasant MPs I’ve met. I hope that’s clear”
@greghands No. My stone cold sober assessment of you is that you are one of the most stupid and unpleasant MPs I’ve met. I hope that’s clear
— Ian Austin (@IanAustinMP) March 26, 2013
Hands, a Tory whip, decided to play on the fact that Austin is a Labour spokesman on work and pensions to warn him to behave: “Don’t forget you are a Labour front bencher, Ian. A spokesman for the Party.”
@ianaustinmpDon’t forget you are a Labour front bencher, Ian. A spokesman for the Party.
— Greg Hands (@GregHands) March 26, 2013
But Austin was having none of it, firing back: “The fact that you are the most unpleasant and one of the most stupid Tory MPs is Labour’s official policy.”
@greghands Yep. I am. And the fact that you are the most unpleasant and one of the most stupid Tory MPs is Labour’s official policy
— Ian Austin (@IanAustinMP) March 26, 2013
Hands seemed to take it in good cheer, quipping: “Loving the fact that according to @IanAustinMPI am “one of the most stupid Tory MPs” & better still this “is Labour’s official policy”
Entertainment is over for the evening. The football is over and @ianaustinmp seems to have passed out at his computer.
— Greg Hands (@GregHands) March 26, 2013
A Labour Party spokesman refused to comment on whether it was the party’s “official policy” that Hands was “one of the most unpleaseant and stupid Tory MPs”, referring LondonlovesBusiness.com to Austin’s office.
Meanwhile, last night’s Twitter tiff drew the attention of other politicos – with former Tory MP Louise Mensch remarking: “If I were in Parlt I’d pat you on the shoulder and tell you to step away from the keyboard. Maybe someone else can.”
@ianaustinmp@greghands If I were in Parlt I’d pat you on the shoulder and tell you to step away from the keyboard. Maybe someone else can.
— Louise Mensch (@LouiseMensch) March 26, 2013
However, Austin dismissed Mensch’s plea: “Afraid @LouiseMensch completely wrong. Get on v well with many Tories. I like George Osborne for example, But i think @greghands unpleasant.”
Afraid @louisemensch completely wrong. Get on v well with many Tories. I like George Osborne for example, But i think @greghands unpleasant
— Ian Austin (@IanAustinMP) March 26, 2013
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