Derek Hatton has been suspended from Labour after 2 days – the only 7 reactions you need to read
A mere two days after being welcomed back into the bosom of the Labour party after 34 years in the wilderness, controversial political figure, Derek “Degsy” Hatton has been suspended. It happened after an old tweet came to light, which was far from a good look with the recent and ongoing anti-semitism row.
Derek Hatton thinks Jewish people are responsible for the actions of the Israeli state. I suspect there's a lot more. pic.twitter.com/HEpbQNuOdj
— Otto English (@Otto_English) February 19, 2019
Does “shambles” cover it? https://t.co/eTiGuoWSmU
— Robert Peston (@Peston) February 20, 2019
If this had happened at any other time, it would have been huge news, but with the political turmoil we see every day, it was virtually a footnote. That didn’t stop Twitter from chipping in with a few jibes, however. These are our favourites.
1.
Derek Hatton returning to the Labour Party. pic.twitter.com/MEKqjv9RWg
— David Schneider (@davidschneider) February 20, 2019
2.
You can leave, you're Hatton https://t.co/uDaO2SxpZ9
— Trudi (@Trudski2012) February 20, 2019
3.
FFS at least give us time to write the jokes.https://t.co/JA3jfzH7c1
— Boothby Graffoe (@boobygraffoe) February 20, 2019
4.
My commiserations to Rachael Swindon and Aaron Bastani who leapt on the Hatton bandwagon prematurely.
— . (@twlldun) February 20, 2019
5.
Degsy?
Dexit more like#morelike
— Mrs Gladys Steptoe (@GladysSteptoe) February 20, 2019
6.
In, out, in, out, shake it all about. https://t.co/tQ7EgCH9UR
— Mrs Trellis (@helen_fagan) February 20, 2019
7.
Is there a bookend to this tweet Aaron? Do you salute him again on the way out? https://t.co/xC3PysiHWI
— Otto English (@Otto_English) February 20, 2019
Several people gave a nod to Hatton’s past, when he sent redundancy notices to 30,000 council employees by taxi.
I wonder if he was notified by taxi. https://t.co/SYmayf6gWB
— Momentum Independent Group (@Genuinemomentum) February 20, 2019
The whole debacle made some people’s tweets look old really quickly.
https://twitter.com/andywigmore/status/1097946246277402625
It looked very much like the Labour Party had decided to be more like comedy writer Nick Pettigrew‘s mum.
Derek Hatton knocked on our door in the early 80s while canvassing. My mum said “You only come round here when you’re after something. Fuck off, Derek” & slammed the door on him.
Labour Party – be more like my mum.— Nick Pettigrew (@Nick_Pettigrew) February 19, 2019
However, in an update that will surprise nobody …
Derek Hatton, hearing that Labour may have to re-re-admit him, because it can't lawfully suspend him for activities while he wasn't a member… pic.twitter.com/UbNHoef7Lw
— Andrew R (@ExcelPope) February 20, 2019
We give in.
