Carwyn hits out at spoof Twitter feeds
FORMER First Minister Carwyn Jones has attacked the “spineless duplicity” of anonymous individuals who have set up a spoof Twitter account in his name aimed at undermining his campaign to be elected to Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee.
Mr Jones, the MS for Bridgend, is going head to head with Pontypridd MS Mick Antoniw for a Welsh seat on the NEC. Mr Antoniw, the Welsh Government’s former Counsel General, is the sitting Welsh member on the ruling body, having been nominated by Mr Jones’ successor as First Minister, Mark Drakeford.
This autumn’s contest between Mr Jones and Mr Antoniw is the result of a decision to democratise the role.
The mock Twitter account Carwyn 4 Labour’s NEC – @Carwyn Campaign – states on its profile: “Updates from @ AMCarwyn’s Labour NEC election campaign”.
There is no indication that it is a parody account.
In recent days the account has drawn attention to the fact that Mr Jones is being paid as an adviser to a broadband company, that a fee of £5 per family is being charged for admission to an online event being organised to promote his shortly-to-be-published autobiography, and has quoted him defending Cerys Furlong, chief executive of the women in employment charity Chwarae Teg, against criticism from the Black Lives Matter campaign for not including any ethnic minority women in a list of female Covid-19 heroes.
His declaration in the register of members’ interests states that Mr Jones is working fewer than five hours per week as an adviser to IT firm Spectrum. The spoof account purports to quote Mr Jones saying: “They’re a great company who provide ‘fibre broadband with a difference’ and offer ‘spectacular service guaranteed’.”
Mr Jones told us: “As anyone who has taken the time to look at it in any detail could tell, this account is indeed a malicious parody and has absolutely nothing to do with my NEC campaign.
“I understand that the Mick4NEC account is similarly unauthorised and malign. I have said from the start that I am determined to enjoy a positive and comradely campaign. I welcome the chance for a full and frank debate, and differences where they exist will be policy-based, not personality-led. This will ultimately benefit our party.
“The spineless duplicity on show with these spoof feeds has no place within Welsh Labour and I won’t hesitate to call it out. I know that Mick, my long-standing friend and colleague, will do exactly the same.
“I care passionately about the NEC role, having fought for years for its establishment. I’ll do whatever is necessary to stop those who only wish our movement harm from damaging it.”
The Twitter account @Mick4NEC states on its profile “Grassroots supporters for Mick Antoniw’s election to @UKLabour’s NEC”.
Again, there is no mention of its being a parody account.
It retweeted a statement from Mr Antoniw’s official account which said: “I’m 100% committed to a positive and comradely campaign.”
The next tweet, supposedly in Mr Antoniw’s words, quoted the tweet from @carwyncampaign which promoted the IT firm Spectrum and stated: “Is this guy REALLY interested in serving @WelshLabour members on @ UKLabour’s NEC or is he more interested in lining his own pocket?
“We’ll soon have the chance to have OUR say on this.”
A spokesman for Mr Antoniw’s campaign said: “We would ask whoever is running these accounts to close them down and would urge everyone not to engage with these anonymous Twitter accounts. Mick is running a positive campaign and is proud of the role he played in ensuring this position is now directly elected by Welsh members and is campaigning to be the members’ voice on the NEC.”