The political week on Twitter: February 6th – 10th
Leveson, #AskTony, the Downton tax and more in this week's highlights.
Tweets selected by Graham Fahy
Working mothers to get tax breaks for 'staff'
Working mothers could get tax breaks to hire cleaners, David Cameron suggested at the end of the week. The scheme is already in place in Sweden and halves the cost of employing domestic help. Twitter has enthusiastically labelled the plan 'the Downton tax'.
Tax relief on gardeners should be called "The Upstairs Downstairs Plan": cheerfully reverting Britain to "staff" & "people in big hats"
— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) February 10, 2012
Of all the ideas to pinch from Scandi family policy, Cameron goes for…tax breaks for servants tgr.ph/ArUjOU Politics goes Downton.
— Gaby Hinsliff (@gabyhinsliff) February 10, 2012
*reads papers* Cameron's bringing in tax-breaks for hiring gardeners? GENIUS. Get the underclass MOWING FOR YUMMY MUMMYS! #economysolved
— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) February 10, 2012
Tax breaks for people with domestic staff is a great way to use money saved by cutting disabled people's benefits! Excellent move , Dave.
— Robin (@queerpup) February 10, 2012
@caitlinmoran Standard already calling "Downton Tax Break". Honestly, dude, it's a shame. Tax breaks on childcare would help many women work
— Janice Turner (@VictoriaPeckham) February 10, 2012
#AskTony
Tony Blair excitedly agreed to a Q and A on Twitter for interfaith harmony week – but found the questioning less than respectful.
" .@adam_j666 #AskTony How's this whole Middle-East peace gig working out for you?"
— Tony Blair Office (@tonyblairoffice) February 8, 2012
#AskTony, when you read "1984" were you aware that it was a novel, and not an instruction manual?
— Adam Jacobs (@adam_j666) February 8, 2012
@tonyblair_tbff Did you ever throw a mobile phone at Gordon,and if not,why not #asktony
— In hell (@Gunna_burn) February 8, 2012
. @janemerrick23#asktony I promise you Jane, he's personally answering them. We've been giving him twitter lessons …
— Ruth Turner TBFF (@RuthTurner) February 8, 2012
Leveson highlights
This week at the Leveson inquiry we heard testimony from among others, Heather Mills, Paul Dacre, Guido Fawkes and Dominic Mohan and even included an odd defence of journalists by Leveson.
Heather Mills at #Leveson! Cos she was photographed and then a WITCH came and some MONSTERS and she SAVED THEM and then she could FLY
— Jenny Colgan (@jennycolgan) February 9, 2012
watching #Leveson. Paul Dacre is lovely. He'd be a smash hit on Strictly. By week 4 we'd be rooting for him.
— Nicky Campbell (@NickyAACampbell) February 9, 2012
Not all journalism is bad, just as not all doctors are like Shipman, #Leveson said today telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/le… via @Telegraph
— Benedict Brogan (@benedictbrogan) February 9, 2012
#Leveson inquiry just given practical primer in how to keep information online in breach of court orders – courtesy blogger Paul Staines
— Philippa Thomas (@PhilippaNews) February 8, 2012
SUN Editor Dominic Mohan on Page 3: it represents youth, freshness and it celebrates natural beauty. #Leveson #hacking
— Peter Hunt (@BBCPeterHunt) February 7, 2012
PM questions
Ed Miliband finally struck home at this week's prime ministers questions. Twitter gave the win to the leader of the opposition.
First time that Ed M has actually "won" #PMQs as opposed to people saying he won it. Easy on NHS, but he did it well.
— John Rentoul (@JohnRentoul) February 8, 2012
Cameron not enjoying #PMQs today. Grouchy and on verge of tantrum
— Iain Martin (@iainmartin1) February 8, 2012
PM to EdM: 'career prospects for (Lansley) are a lot better than his'. not quite the full-throated endorsement Lansley might've wanted #pmqs
— Gaby Hinsliff (@gabyhinsliff) February 8, 2012
Now THAT was a proper knockabout. Snap verdict – Miliband: 4 Cameron: 1. #pmqs bit.ly/yptqse
— politics.co.uk (@Politics_co_uk) February 8, 2012
So, was this the week that David Cameron's stock "yer bruver" jibe stopped working against Ed Mili? #pmqs
— JamesLyons (@MirrorJames) February 8, 2012
Robust performance by Ann Leslie on BBC Question Time
Steve Coogan, defence secretary Philip Hammond, Liberal Democrat politician Shirley Williams, journalist Ann Leslie and former No 10 Director of Communications Alastair Campbell appeared together on this week's Question Time. But it was Ann Leslie's robust performance that animated Twitter.
Anne Leslie is arguing like me in the pub at 11 o'clock with one shoe on. #bbcqt
— Grace Dent (@gracedent) February 9, 2012
Ann Leslie wakes up to find she's sharing a bed with half a bottle of gin, a cold kebab – and Steve Coogan#bbcqt
— Paul Burston (@PaulBurston) February 10, 2012
This has all gone a bit Jeremy Kyle #bbcqt
— Gaby Hinsliff (@gabyhinsliff) February 9, 2012
'you were always a lousy journalist' Ann Leslie to @campbellclaret. Before cheerfully admitting she'd forgotten the question. #bbcqt
— Gaby Hinsliff (@gabyhinsliff) February 9, 2012
