Oliver Dowden got rightly dragged for his bizarre speech about ‘the privet hedges of freedom’
The Tories didn’t exactly clothe themselves in glory with their conference speeches, at the weekend.
Boris Johnson compared Ukrainian resistance to Brexit, Liz Truss – the Equalities Minister – attacked the use of preferred pronouns, and Jacob Rees-Mogg described Partygate as trivial “fluff”.
Despite Boris Johnson claiming the Labour Party would wave the white flag to Russia, the Chairman of the Conservative Party, Oliver Dowden, took the prize for Most Bizarre Attack on ‘the Left’.
I find this speech by ‘Olive’ Dowden astoundingly embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/ifSYETYdc7
— Jake Richards (@JakeBenRichards) March 19, 2022
Immortal sentence from Oliver Dowden, Tory party chair, that I missed yesterday: “For me, the privet hedges of suburbia are the privet hedges of a free people” https://t.co/Z4knWNZuVN
— John Rentoul (@JohnRentoul) March 19, 2022
“For me, the privet hedges of suburbia are the privet hedges of a free people.”
It’s a bold move to employ Eric Cantona as a speech writer. These mocking responses from Twitter were exactly what the speech deserved.
1.
Just say white Oliver this is exhausting pic.twitter.com/BKThIrmJqn
— Nish Kumar (@MrNishKumar) March 20, 2022
2.
‘The privet hedges of suburbia are the privet hedges of a free people’ pic.twitter.com/5f0uaVfJn2
— Toby Earle 🇺🇦 (@TobyonTV) March 20, 2022
3.
I agree with Olly Dowden, the privet hedges of suburbia are the privet hedges of a free people. Although that hasn't stopped me reporting next door to the council. pic.twitter.com/bNnDWnD80d
— THE SECRET TORY 🗽 (@secrettory12) March 21, 2022
4.
If you find Oliver Dowden's speech embarrassing, remember that it's not for you. It's for the Tory base which they deliberately cultivate to be ignorant enough to swallow this crap. Yes, I'm having an angry day… https://t.co/MlXVHDGV9z
— Hal Cruttenden (@Halcruttenden) March 20, 2022
5.
That's me that is, always deriding the privet hedges as I walk through my suburban neighbourhood in Hertfordshire pic.twitter.com/xrWZrOQRu3
— Sid 🏳️🌈 (@HertsSid) March 20, 2022
6.
Privet hedges: the untold Brexit opportunity.
— Laurence Unboxed (@Laurence_in_EU) March 20, 2022
7.
"After an unexplained hiatus of 15 years, Privet Hedges Of Suburbia are back with a new EP." https://t.co/wHMdCVAGpP pic.twitter.com/5OYxrKIoOb
— woodo (@Mister_Woodo) March 20, 2022
8.
Privet hedges respond to speech by Conservative Party Chairman. pic.twitter.com/aQiUJYax74
— Jonathan Easton (@jonnye47) March 20, 2022
9.
“The privet hedges of suburbia are the privet hedges of a free people.” pic.twitter.com/zsc9UCxY5q
— Brendan May 🇺🇦 (@bmay) March 21, 2022
10.
I want a privet hedge so I can be truly free…… pic.twitter.com/oAyxFVVrKh
— Thelma Walker (@Thelma_DWalker) March 20, 2022
11.
Never mind the privet hedge of conservatism. Here's the laurel hedge of socialism. pic.twitter.com/RB4y36Xgah
— Chris Dillow (@CJFDillow) March 20, 2022
12.
Some are born into a privet hedge, some achieve a privet hedge, and some have a privet hedge thrust up them. pic.twitter.com/e8DixhgLVM
— Laurence Unboxed (@Laurence_in_EU) March 20, 2022
This cut to the chase.
Someone should tell Oliver Dowden that people in Ukraine are in the living hell of war, the U.K. is blocking desperate refugees and nobody gives a flying fuck about privet hedges. https://t.co/bFZolY6vig
— Dr Lindsay 🇺🇦 Popovich, now Maxwell (@ParisDaguerre) March 20, 2022
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Source Jake Richards Image Screengrab, Anton Nokolov on Unsplash
