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Priti Patel’s Resignation Was A 24-Hour Social Media Rollercoaster
The moon landing. The JFK assassination. Lilith the lynx escaping from Borth Wild Animal Kingdom. Everyone says they knows where they were during these seismic moments in human history.
While the resignation of Conservative minister Priti Patel probably won’t live as long in the memory, those who do remember it will know precisely where they were. They were on Twitter.
So how did we get to the stage where a politician’s downfall was so absorbing it probably dented Britain’s GDP?
Let’s recap …
Patel, the UK’s international development secretary, got into hot water after she admitted to holding meetings in Israel while on holiday in August, including with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, the Foreign Office was only made aware of the ‘secret’ meetings on August 24 – after they took place.
The problem here is that Patel could have been seen as freelancing and making government policy on the hoof.
By Tuesday night, amid increasingly loud calls for her to resign, things got appreciably worse.
So I am hearing that Priti Patel is likely to be sacked within hours. That would be two cabinet ministers gone in a week.
— Robert Peston (@Peston) November 7, 2017
Ruh-roh!
Breaking: Priti Patel has admitted to two more unauthorised meetings with senior Israeli officials since her return from Israel in August.
— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) November 7, 2017
Except removing Patel from her ministerial berth for breaking the ministerial code was problematic for Theresa May, chiefly because they were more than 4,000 miles apart.
Patel was on an official trip to Uganda, and firing a colleague while in another continent when you don’t have a parliamentary majority is probably not good form.
Why she was in Uganda in the first place is itself intriguing.
The bizarre thing about today’s Uganda trip is a rumour that it was brought forward by a couple of weeks to give Patel easy escape from current controversy.
— Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) November 7, 2017
Undeterred by geography, May ordered Patel to abandon her visit, and it was briefed a nine-hour flight from Nairobi in Kenya to Heathrow had been hastily arranged.
Meanwhile, the MP’s recall left a Daily Telegraph journalist high and dry.
Flew a few thousand miles overnight for interview with @patel4witham… have a feeling it’s cancelled – she missed our flight this AM. pic.twitter.com/TJTYm0edca
— Anna Isaac (@Annaisaac) November 8, 2017
British political Twitter swiftly identified a Kenyan Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner was probably carrying the imperilled Secretary of State.
But back on terra firma, more allegations were ping-ponging around.
Israeli newspaper @haaretzcom is reporting that Priti Patel visited the Golan Heights – which the UK does not recognise – on her trip to t.co/lUaHVmKbvk
— Joey D’Urso (@josephmdurso) November 8, 2017
And there was more …
This time in Patel’s favour: the Jewish Chronicle reported how Number 10 instructed Patel not to include her meeting with an Israel foreign ministry in her list of undisclosed meetings.
My exclusive t.co/pAc3Hjbwuo
— Stephen Pollard (@stephenpollard) November 8, 2017
If true, it would have meant Downing Street had in effect lied to journalists.
If this is true – and @stephenpollard is very good – then Number 10 have been misleading journalists all week about what Theresa May knew and when. t.co/kfJDwmgJPM
— Kevin Schofield (@PolhomeEditor) November 8, 2017
No. 10 flatly denied the story. Regardless, Patel may well have been blissfully unaware of the unfolding crisis.
“There is no wi-fi on board”.
Six hours until Priti Patel lands.
The Kenya Airways flight is due to land at Heathrow at 3.30pm GMT. There is no WiFi on board t.co/yEtM2TFLVf#PritiPatelpic.twitter.com/nf6gAcGOgY— HuffPost UK (@HuffPostUK) November 8, 2017
Plus …
can’t get sacked if you never turn airplane mode off pic.twitter.com/RetPdFH7nS
— Tom Phillips (@flashboy) November 7, 2017
Patel’s epic journey was now more than just Twitter fodder. The state broadcaster’s interest was very much piqued.
We’re at “OJ and the white bronco” stage of the coverage as BBC News now showing Priti Patel’s flight from Kenya on the online flight radar: “You can see its just over Greece at the moment” pic.twitter.com/Xf407P2kRF
— Mark Di Stefano ?? (@MarkDiStef) November 8, 2017
BBC News have just flashed up the Kenyan Airways flight that we’ve all been following & everyone assumes Priti Patel is on. Extraordinary day in political journalism t.co/mj66yH3W8x
— Jane Merrick (@janemerrick23) November 8, 2017
But it wasn’t just journalists tuning in.
More than 22,000 users are currently tracking flight #KQ100 en route to London.
According to media #PritiPatel is on board this flight.t.co/3GXUkQw0e3pic.twitter.com/8uzL9usnRc
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) November 8, 2017
That’s right, 22,000 people were tracking her flight live online on a working Tuesday, and updates were constant.
BREAKING Priti Patel is now over Bosnia
— Christopher Hope (@christopherhope) November 8, 2017
The Dfid Secretary is BACK IN UK AIRSPACE. In my experience, phone signal kicks in at about 15,000 feet, just above Kent, so if Theresa May’s got even half a pair of bollocks she’ll have sacked her by now. pic.twitter.com/xEuUD52imC
— Tom Peck (@tompeck) November 8, 2017
“Priti Patel has just passed Heston Services” pic.twitter.com/JCCHicjD05
— LCC municipal (@lccmunicipal) November 8, 2017
she’s making a run for it! pic.twitter.com/y7XuJ4TCOe
— Chris Cook (@xtophercook) November 8, 2017
People started to imagine how her arrival in London might play out.
*Priti Patel walks through “nothing to declare” line*
Theresa May: Are you fucking kidding?— James Felton (@JimMFelton) November 8, 2017
BBC News broadcast live pictures of Patel’s plane as it landed at Heathrow …
… but Patel managed to side-step awaiting reporters.
She is in the car … …promise we saw her get in – no time for duty free pic.twitter.com/VDKTM3l0LJ
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) November 8, 2017
Can confirm the atmosphere in Terminal 4 is one of intense disappointment.
— Mikey Smith (@mikeysmith) November 8, 2017
Ah, but helicopters …
Like a scene from Rat Race, the BBC helicopter is now flying after Priti Patel’s car as it goes from Heathrow to Downing Street pic.twitter.com/ErG7bo0FAi
— Julia Macfarlane (@juliamacfarlane) November 8, 2017
Reports: Priti Patel’s car now heading for Cliff Richard’s house as it’s the only location safe from the BBC helicopter.
— Niall Paterson (@skynewsniall) November 8, 2017
EVERYONE HAS LOST IT AND I’M HERE FOR IT t.co/gXEEWMguZZ
— Marie Le Conte (@youngvulgarian) November 8, 2017
Was everyone going too far, though?
A misjudged tweet I think. We’re not dealing with an on-the-run crim here. I can understand media bloodlust but only from declared Leftists. t.co/7I8HEUHBZX
— Patrick O’Flynn (@oflynnmep) November 8, 2017
(this is stupid. A not particularly important person probably will resign because she had some meetings without telling more important people first. It’s being covered like a small war)
— James Morris (@JamesDMorris) November 8, 2017
There was a break in the drama as Patel was forced to wait for more than an hour as May met the Queen for her weekly audience at Buckingham Palace.
But Patel eventually arrived by Downing Street’s back gate.
Priti Patel has arrived in Downing St pic.twitter.com/3sOfqjtcNl
— Mollie Goodfellow (@hansmollman) November 8, 2017
Priti Patel waiting outside Theresa May’s office right now. pic.twitter.com/3uD7ns3Gf1
— hrtbps (@hrtbps) November 8, 2017
Explaining to my mum Priti Patel is inside No 10 but hasn’t resigned yet
My mum: ‘Maybe they’re having a drink’
— Esther Webber (@estwebber) November 8, 2017
After a 33-minute meeting, the inevitable came.
But even the resignation letter was not without drama.
This looks like Priti Patel has signed her own reply to her resignation letter pic.twitter.com/0frraKuxhw
— Aubrey Allegretti (@breeallegretti) November 8, 2017
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/priti-patel-twitter_uk_5a033238e4b09205305991e4
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