This ex-government minister’s request for privacy was straight out of The Thick Of It
When junior trade minister Greg Hands stepped down from government to leave him free to vote against the Heathrow expansion, many admired his principled stand. Naturally, the media interest around his decision was intense, but he had a unique way of requesting privacy.
Rather than ask for peace and quiet to carry on with his work or barking a curt “No comment”, he tweeted this:
Am flattered by all the media calls about my resignation today, but it’s a bit awkward as am on pilgrimage at the Romanian monastery of Voronet. With the phone ringing/vibrating constantly I think the monks think I might be a drug dealer. In short: no media interviews. pic.twitter.com/2P2HxN0Sta
— Greg Hands (@GregHands) June 21, 2018
It didn’t have quite the desired effect, drawing a lot of comments, many of which he addressed.
I like this. Instead of ‘no comment’ this should be the stock response to all media on tricky days. “I am on pilgrimage at the Romanian monastery of Voronet." https://t.co/gCAU0QngIJ
— SimonNRicketts (@SimonNRicketts) June 21, 2018
This is absolutely the best brush-off I've ever received https://t.co/9YscfoT9sI
— Cathy Newman (@cathynewman) June 21, 2018
Including the inevitable …
Pray for Greg https://t.co/RbNwA2DTaz
— steve hawkes (@steve_hawkes) June 21, 2018
Some people weren’t too happy about his activity.
WTAF. The Commons is sitting FGS. It's not in recess. Maybe I wont turn up to work tomorrow and will instead go to a Romanian monastery. https://t.co/U7jor917nN
— Captain Haddock (@JXB101) June 21, 2018
There was a time when MPs actually did the job of representing constituents. How does an MP get to do a pilgrimage in the middle of a parliamentary session? Genuine question. #howtheotherhalflive
— AssemblyTube (@AssemblyTube) June 21, 2018
Is this not something you could, and indeed should, do during your six-week summer holiday, not when you’re supposed to be at work?
— Paivi (@PaiviTen) June 21, 2018
And Anjali Ewing made a very good point about his call for privacy.
“Twat. Just switch your phone off. You’re on a pilgrimage.”
