There are currently 45 Lib Dem MPs on Twitter, according to this list curated by Mark Pack. Thanks to Twitter’s #FirstTweet website gizmo we can see the first words of wisdom the party’s elected representatives chose to offer the world. I mean, who wouldn’t want to?
Read this list and you’ll discover who the first Lib Dem MP to tweet was*, who talked about themselves in the third person, and which former cabinet minister asked in 2009, “Wondering if any bankers actually understand what is going on.” And, riddle me this, how did Greg Mulholland’s first tweet manage to be a re-tweet of himself?
* Duncan Hames (May 2007), though he wasn’t an MP at the time; Lynne Featherstone was the first elected Lib Dem MP to tweet (March 2008).
Here’s the complete list…
Danny Alexander (@dannyalexander)
has now joined twitter
— Danny Alexander (@dannyalexander) March 29, 2009
Norman Baker (@NormanBakerMP) (re-tweeted a tweet he’s mentioned in)
WATCH and comment: Talking #Clare's Law with @normanbakermp joining @Jo_Coburn on #bbcdp – on our Facebook page http://t.co/Qq37uENoxR
— DailySunday Politics (@daily_politics) November 25, 2013
Gordon Birtwistle (@GBirtwistle_MP)
on way to chamber for #pmqs after productive morning meeting with @vincecable
— Gordon Birtwistle (@GBirtwistle_MP) October 19, 2011
Tom Brake (@thomasbrake)
It's now possible to follow me on Twitter – I'll keep you updated on my work as an MP through Twitter & Facebook
— Tom Brake MP (@thomasbrake) March 26, 2009
Annette Brooke (@Annette4MDNP)
New article: Annette Brooke MP puts the spotlight on screening in Mid Dorset and Poole: 20 January 2010 – MP Annet… http://bit.ly/8JEgb2
— Annette Brooke (@Annette4MDNP) January 26, 2010
Malcolm Bruce (@malcolmbruce)
Getting to grips with Face Book and Twitter while preparing to speak to Ellon Rotary tonite
— Malcolm Bruce (@malcolmbruce) September 30, 2009
Paul Burstow (@PaulBurstow)
Just finished meeting with a local business, a local timber merchant, business doing well but state of building trade remains big concern
— Paul Burstow MP (@PaulBurstow) January 11, 2010
Lorely Burt (@LorelyBurt)
Hello Tweetasphere! Lorely here!
— Lorely Burt (@LorelyBurt) May 31, 2012
Vince Cable (@vincecable)
Is questioning the Chancellor on Northern Rock at question time; see his statement on the bank sell-off here: http://bit.ly/1Lxj6E
— Vince Cable (@vincecable) November 3, 2009
Ming Campbell (@MingCampbellMP)
FIFE MPs UNITE IN FIGHT FOR RAF LEUCHARS – All four Fife Members of Parliament, Sir Menzies Campbell, Gordon B… http://tinyurl.com/2738u27
— Ming Campbell (@MingCampbellMP) December 13, 2010
Alistair Carmichael (@acarmichaelmp)
Heading to London today and hoping to persuade the Meat Hygiene Service not to cut their service in Orkney tomorrow. Exciting eh?
— Alistair Carmichael (@acarmichaelmp) November 22, 2009
Nick Clegg (@nick_clegg)
Government must act on Zimbabwe – Clegg:
Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg has urged the Governmen.. http://tinyurl.com/6kkhar
— Nick Clegg (@nick_clegg) June 4, 2008
Mike Crockart (@CrockartMP)
Back to London for last week at Westminster before summer recess
— Mike Crockart MP (@CrockartMP) July 11, 2011
Ed Davey (@EdwardDaveyMP)
I have just donated to #LoveKingston, you can too by texting LVKG00 £ 70070 – do support this fantastic project.
— Edward Davey (@EdwardDaveyMP) February 14, 2013
Tim Farron (@timfarron)
I've just entered the 21st century with this modern interweb stuff and am now going to compensate with some good old fashioned door knocking
— Tim Farron (@timfarron) October 5, 2009
Lynne Featherstone (@lfeatherstone)
Learning how to use Twitter
— Lynne Featherstone (@lfeatherstone) March 22, 2008
Don Foster (@DonFosterMP)
represents Bath and I'm the @LibDems Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
— Don Foster (@DonFosterMP) October 26, 2009
Andrew George (@AndrewGeorgeLD)
is door knocking in Helston this evening
— Andrew George (@AndrewGeorgeLD) September 9, 2009
Stephen Gilbert (@stephen_gilbert)
Stephen is twittering – for the first time!
— Stephen Gilbert MP (@stephen_gilbert) January 15, 2009
Duncan Hames (@duncanhames)
Testing my Twitter account over lunch.
— Duncan Hames (@duncanhames) May 15, 2007
Nick Harvey (@NickHarveyND)
Thanks for warm welcome to Twitter and looking forward to lively exchanges.
— Nick Harvey (@NickHarveyND) November 26, 2013
David Heath (@DavidHeathMP)
Setting twitter account up in time for #ldconf
— About David Heath MP (@DavidHeathMP) September 21, 2012
John Hemming (@johnhemmingmp)
Labour and the Conservatives have just combined to stop Parliament reforming itself.
— John Hemming (@johnhemmingmp) April 7, 2010
Martin Horwood (@MartinChelt)
I've finally learnt how to use Twitter!
— Martin Horwood (@MartinChelt) November 26, 2009
Simon Hughes (@SimonHughesMP)
Plan a good sleep tonight before sleeping out tmrw night – @RobesSleepout, grt sth London charity for homeless- #plssponsor
— Simon Hughes (@SimonHughesMP) November 28, 2013
Mark Hunter (@markhuntermp)
Not for airport staff. What about airport staff? http://tinyurl.com/p4z8w9
— Mark Hunter MP (@markhuntermp) May 10, 2009
Julian Huppert (@julianhuppert)
is discovering that canvassing as a candidate is rather different! Getting a good response though!
— Julian Huppert (@julianhuppert) January 23, 2010
Charles Kennedy (@charles_kennedy)
On Question Time tonight with Margaret Beckett, Andrew Lansley, Caroline Lucas and David Starkey – wish me luck! BBC 1, 10:30pm
— Charles Kennedy (@charles_kennedy) March 18, 2010
Norman Lamb (@normanlamb)
Working far too late in the office – as usual!
— Norman Lamb (@normanlamb) February 24, 2009
John Leech (@johnleechmcr)
Just blogged about seeing full body scanners at Manc Airport – www.john-leech.co.uk/blog. Interested to hear what… http://ff.im/eNJ3l
— John Leech (@johnleechmcr) January 25, 2010
Michael Moore (@MichaelMooreMP)
Wondering if any bankers actually understand what is going on.
— Michael Moore (@MichaelMooreMP) February 11, 2009
Greg Mulholland (@GregMulholland1)
RT @GregMulholland1: Back from Scotland and two very tough days in the munros. 13 in two days and great training for the 126 mile challe …
— Greg Mulholland MP (@GregMulholland1) April 28, 2009
Tessa Munt (@tessamunt)
Hello world! I am here, it's just taking longer to set up the new website than I hoped
— Tessa Munt (MP) (@tessamunt) December 10, 2010
John Pugh (@johnpughmp)
Interesting stuff from @TheKingsFund : http://t.co/Cw5TASfU – the tale of the Health and Social Care Act.
— John Pugh MP (@johnpughmp) July 12, 2012
Adrian Sanders (@adriansandersmp)
Members, supporters and friends are welcome to come and meet Paddy Ashdown & myself, 7.30pm on Tues at Oldway Mansion, Paignton. Please RSVP
— Adrian Sanders (@adriansandersmp) April 12, 2010
Ian Swales (@iswales)
Just set up on Twitter. Looks easy and lots of fun.
— Ian Swales (@iswales) August 27, 2009
Jo Swinson (@joswinson)
is looking forward to going on Question Time tomorrow
— Jo Swinson (@joswinson) May 28, 2008
Mike Thornton (@Mike4Eastleigh)
Delighted to have been chosen as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Eastleigh. It's an incredible honour and I look forward to the campaign!
— Mike Thornton MP (@Mike4Eastleigh) February 9, 2013
David Ward (@DavidWardMP)
Hi everyone, I'm now on Twitter, I'll be tweeting about national and Bradford issues #bradford #libdems #fb
— David Ward (@DavidWardMP) June 6, 2011
Steve Webb (@stevewebb1)
is dipping his toe in the Twitter water for the first time; not sure if I'll regret it…
— Steve Webb (@stevewebb1) June 6, 2009
Mark Williams (@mark4ceredigion)
Mark Williams is looking forwards to surgeries in New Quay and Llanon as well as meeting the residents of Trefenter!
— Mark Williams (@mark4ceredigion) March 19, 2010
Roger Williams (@RogerWilliamsLD)
Good response from Vince on my BIS question to increase british food exports. Good to see government supporting british food manufacturing!
— Roger Williams MP (@RogerWilliamsLD) February 2, 2012
Stephen Williams (@swilliamsmp)
Annual debate on A levels: http://wp.me/p11E7y-F
— Stephen Williams MP (@swilliamsmp) August 19, 2010
Jenny Willott (@JennyWillott)
Hello – I am the MP for Cardiff Central and I have just joined Twitter!
— Jenny Willott (@JennyWillott) September 5, 2011
Simon Wright (@SimonWrightMP)
Norwich South MP Simon Wright welcomes government announcement on local transport: http://bit.ly/e4xYcG
— Simon Wright MP (@SimonWrightMP) January 24, 2011
* Stephen was Editor (and Co-Editor) of Liberal Democrat Voice from 2007 to 2015, and writes at The Collected Stephen Tall.
5 Comments
Hi. You’re missing @stevewebb1.
Jo gets away with tweeting in the third person because that was what you did in 2008. She also was one of the first to link up Facebook and Twitter with an app called selective tweets and everyone did third person Facebook statuses then which we now look back on with faint embarrassment at their pretension.
Farron’s is my favourite.
Thanks, Glyn – now updated with Steve’s!
I notice that Nick Clegg’s first tweet was “Government must act on Zimbabwe”.
As he has been Deputy Prime Minister for four of the six years since this message and this is not a statement which most Conservatives would disagree with can anyone remind me what action he has taken?
For completeness and transparency, Stephen Tall’s first tweet was “Working frantically”.
Mark Pack’s was “Eating chocolate”.
😉