Labour MP apologises for tweeting about ‘f***ing Estonian retards’
A Labour MP has apologised for a series of offensive tweets she made more than 10 years ago.
Lauren Edwards said she had made a ‘significant error of judgement’ after posting ‘I want these f****** Estonian retards out of my flat now!’ in 2009.
The recently elected MP for Rochester and Strood also made remarks about a halal restaurant and Parliamentary cleaners in the now-deleted posts dated between 2009-2011.
Another post, which appeared to be responding to an account called Baroness Wrenthorpe, said: ‘Baroness Wrenthorpe text me from Walthamstow to say he’s seen a halal Pakistani Chinese Grill place. Hope he’s not suggesting we go there.’
Elsewhere, Ms Edwards also tweeted: ‘Are the cleaners on recess too? My desk has so many coffee rings it looks like Saturn.’
Between 2008 and 2013, Ms Edwards worked as a parliamentary researcher for Labour MPs including Barbara Keeley, Teresa Pearce and Lisa Nandy.
On Thursday, Ms Edwards said: ‘I have recently been made aware of a small number of tweets that I posted on Twitter from over a decade ago, which I now deeply regret.
‘They were a significant error of judgement on my part, and I apologise wholeheartedly.
‘Since becoming a local councillor and more recently an MP, I have seen first-hand the importance of bringing communities together and working with tolerance and respect for all in our society.
‘I pledge to use my platform to continue that important work and dedicate myself to serving all residents of Rochester and Strood.’
Ms Edwards was elected as an MP at the General Election in July with 15,403 votes.
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