Labour MP criticised for sharing tweet which mocks Theresa May as 'ugly'
Emma Dent Coad defended her comment on social media, adding it was a 'joke'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Labour MP has been criticised after sharing a social media post referring to Theresa May as “ugly”.
The Kensington and Chelsea MP Emma Dent Coad said she “loved” the message which quotes Roald Dahl’s novel, the Twits.
Under a picture of the Prime Minister, the text reads: “If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until you can hardly bear to look at it.
Next to an image of Jeremy Corbyn, however, the post adds: “A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly.
“You can have a wonky nose and crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”
But the MP was quickly criticised on social media. The Conservative MP Steve Double said: “Oh dear Jeremy Corbyn I think she needs another one of your little chats.”
Former foreign office minister Hugo Swire added: “Is this woman really suitable for public life?”
A third Conservative MP, Brandon Lewis, said the social media post summed up the “nasty streak running through Labour these days”.
Asked about her Twitter post on Sky News, Ms Dent Coad said: “It’s a joke. It is Roald Dahl and the things that I’ve had thrown at me over the last five months you would not believe.
“I have had four death threats. Making a joke about the Roald Dahl thing, I think, is pretty minor compared to some of the stuff other people get all day.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments