The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

More woe for Labour?

Twitter gaffe from Twitter tsar.

By Jon Bernstein Published 29 April 2010 18:57

Paul Waugh and Guido are both reporting what looks like a fairly sizeable own goal by Kerry McCarthy, a former Labour MP and the party's candidate for Bristol East. She is also the Labour Party's new media campaigns spokesperson.

Earlier this afternoon, McCarthy (aka @kerry4mp) tweeted some numbers that appeared to show an early count of postal votes in the constituency.

Seemingly realising her mistake, she subsequently tweeted:

On reflection, I've deleted. It's not counting, just random exercise.

And then:

My mistake -- hands up!

This may not resonate as much as the Gillian Duffy affair, but it could be very embarrassing nonetheless. Might this be a case for the Electoral Commission? Waugh suggests as much.

Tags: Election 2010

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7 comments

Fri, 2010-04-30 13:35 — bernard2

NOTICE HOW THE MEDIA HASS SAID ALMOST NOTHING BAD ABOUT THE LIB DEMS OR THE TORIES BUT ITS ALMOST CONSTANTLY NEGITIVE ABOUT LABOUR . WAKE UP UK THE MEDIA IS BRAINWASHING YOU TO VOTE LABOUR OUT . FOR ME THATS ALL THE REASON I NEED TO VOTE LABOUR BACK IN .

Thu, 2010-04-29 19:12 — Buzz (not verified)

I sent her tweet on to the electoral commission so they've got a copy even though she deleted it. I'm sure I'm not alone!

Thu, 2010-04-29 20:01 — Sarah (not verified)

According to the Telegraph she's said that she believes she has done nothing wrong and that no wrongdoing has been proven by her, or anyone else involved.

Hope everyone has kept those screen shots handy!

Thu, 2010-04-29 20:55 — davidk1

More much ado about nothing.

This, and every other story for the next three days, will be eclipsed by TV Debate III.

Thu, 2010-04-29 21:27 — Robert (not verified)

Yes there might be a problem.

And she acknowledged publicly that .......

But I hope it is kept in perspective. All too often at bye-elections the pundits on TV have a pretty good idea from surreptitious texts from observers in the count where things stand. Especially if it's a late declaration and viewers need to get to bed.

Nods and winks.

When in my youth I acted as a party counting agent there was always a burly copper on the doorway into the school hall. If he's have seen anyone peering through the glazed doorway or seen a smile or a wink from inside before the declaration all hell would have been to pay!

It's wrong that the press expect to get the feel for the count's progress before the final declaration. It encourages laxness - an example of which we might have seen today.

Thu, 2010-04-29 23:37 — jason (not verified)

This is different than at a by election.

This is 7 days before the election and it is a three way race.

An early result could change the election by showing which candidate is in second in a three way race and where the voters should go to stop the first place candidate.

The law is specifically there to stop from influencing the election.

It is the law though in the UK. Though in the U.S you do get leaks from florida postal votes and a state like nevada you can see where the votes are coming from and the early postal vote in a key county.

In the UK when the TV are talking about postal votes it is always after 10 p.m after the election is closed. Then you hear them saying what we are hearing.

I am surprised because this is so known how it is illegal in the UK to leak postal votes and she is the new media spokesperson.

I don't think it will hurt her since her seat really isn't a marginal seat and the tory candidate has a name that I'm sure isn't helping her in the seat.

Fri, 2010-04-30 00:22 — Robert (not verified)

Absolutely agree, Jason.

Silence/confidentiality is part of the legality and legitimacy of the vote.