BBC Twitter gaffe lines Nick Clegg up for the chopping block during Lib Dem conference speech
A BBC reporter was the centre of attention on Twitter this morning after she tweeted the imminent execution of Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg at the party’s annual conference.
Clegg discussed the future of the party at the event
BBC South East political editor Louise Stewart showed the dangers of predictive texting when she sent to her 3,000 followers the message: “Nick Clegg not executed on stage until 1320 #libdem14.”
The mishap, which received almost 400 retweets, had many keen to see the ‘execution’ of the Lib Dem leader whose popularity has long ago peaked.
Nick Clegg not executed on stage until 1320 #libdem14
— Louise Stewart (@BBCLouise) October 8, 2014
Stewart issued a prompt apology for the timely tweet - as many are expecting Clegg’s leadership to be challenged in the coming year.
Apologies for my previous tweet - I meant of course Nick Clegg not EXPECTED on stage until 1320 - blame predictive texting — Louise Stewart (@BBCLouise) October 8, 2014Delighted (and relieved) that Lib Dem press office have a sense of humour - apparently amused by my predictive text error — Louise Stewart (@BBCLouise) October 8, 2014At the event, Clegg accused the PM's Conservatives of stealing Lib Dem policies: “David Cameron you can copy our ideas but you'll never imitate our values,” the deputy prime minister said.
The gaffe followed a similar Twitter nightmare last week for an incredulous Donald Trump, who blindly retweeted a picture of serial killers Fred and Rose West citing him as an inspiration, sent by a ‘fan’.