Minister Nadine Dorries criticised for tweeting ‘doctored video from far-right account’ attacking Keir Starmer
Health minister Nadine Dorries deleted her tweet about Sir Keir Starmer (PA)
2 min read
Health minister Nadine Dorries has been criticised for praising a “doctored video” posted by a “far-right account” which attacked Sir Keir Starmer.
The Tory MP has since deleted her tweet after being accused of “shameful” behaviour and helping spread “fake news” about the Labour leader.
Two of her Conservative colleagues in Parliament, Lucy Allan and Maria Caulfield, also posted supportively about the video, which made a series of claims about Sir Keir’s actions while Director of Public Prosecutions.
The clip, which had been viewed thousands of times before being taken down, was a highly-edited version of an interview the Labour leader gave in 2013 about changes to the guidelines on prosecuting sexual abuse.
Ms Dorries said it was “revealing”, but the minister for patient safety was forced to take it down, after a Labour source said: "This is a doctored video tweeted by far-right social media account.
“As a government minister, we hope Nadine Dorries acknowledges this and takes it down."
Shadow minister Dr Rosena Allin Khan said it was: "Disgraceful that a Government Minister and Tory MPs shared a smear about the Labour leader from a far-right account, without questioning it's accuracy.
"Why did this happen? Because the urge to score a political point beat the urge to seek the truth. Shocking."
And Labour MP Wes Streeting said Ms Dorries was spreading “fake news” and indulging in “a smear being promoted by the far right”.
He tweeted at her: “You had time to do this despite being a Minister in the Department of Health during a public health crisis.
“It’s either malevolence or stupidity. Probably both.”
Ms Caulfield, the MP for Lewes and a former party vice-chairman, deleted her Twitter account after she was criticised for posting that the video of Sir Keir showed “the true face of the Labour leader”.
Telford MP Ms Allan also deleted her tweet about the clip, but then posted a follow-up message appearing to defend her decision.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
