Labour politician Emma Dent Coad has come under fire after sharing a “shameful” and “disgraceful” tweet slamming Theresa May’s appearance.
The Kensington MP was accused of bullying over the post, which appeared to use a quote from Roald Dahl’s children’s book ‘The Twits’ to call the Prime Minister “ugly”.
Under a photo of May, the original message read: “If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face.
“And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until you can hardly look at it.”
Meanwhile, an image of a smiling Jeremy Corbyn was accompanied by the quote: “A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly.
“You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”
“Love this…” Dent Coad added as she shared the image to her near-10,000 strong Twitter-following on Sunday night.
But the decision sparked an instant backlash, with some accusing the MP of acting like a social media “troll”.
“Trump levels of vitriol from Emma Dent Coad,” one Twitter user responded.
Another added: “That would be a ridiculous & embarrassing tweet to endorse even if you weren’t a Member of Parliament, Emma.”
Meanwhile, Tory MP Hugo Swire wrote: “Is this woman really suitable for public life?”
Not sure Emma Dent Coad quite got the point of my grandfather’s passage from the Twits that she’s quoting. pic.twitter.com/SaRCfpEhny
The level of your immaturity is just staggering. You’re an MP isn’t time you started acting like one? #pitykensington
Can’t believe what I have just seen.. are you seriously putting another woman down using her looks?? Please apologise.. Please have integrity, be generous and honour the position you are in.
November 27, 2017
I try to respect politicians as you are elected but wish that you would be more respectful and tolerant of each other. Hate the nastiness and cheap shots and have more respect for those who rise above it. #JustSaying
November 27, 2017
Responding to criticism on Sky News this morning, Dent Coad dismissed the post as a “joke”.
“It’s a joke, it’s Roald Dahl,” she said.
“The things I’ve had thrown at me over the last five months, you would not believe. I’ve had four rounds of death threats.
“It is ugly. You know, making a joke from a Roald Dahl thing I think is pretty minor compared to what some people get up to.”
The incident comes just weeks after it emerged that Dent Coad had made “unacceptable” comments about a Tory candidate in a 2011 blog post, calling London Assembly Member Shaun Bailey a “token ghetto boy” and a “scumbag”.
She also hit the headlines in September after reportedly making anti-Royal remarks at the Labour party conference, allegedly describing herself as the “Royal Family’s worst nightmare” and mocking Prince Harry’s military career.