A newly elected Labour MP has apologised after a series of offensive tweets from more than a decade ago resurfaced.
Lauren Edwards, who last month ousted the Tories in Rochester and Strood, said she had made a “significant error of judgement” which she “deeply regrets”.
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She did not directly cite which posts she meant, but unverified screenshots of the since-deleted tweets have been circulating online.
One of the tweets posted in June 2009 read: “I want these f****** Estonian r****ds out of my flat now!”
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.”
Ms Edwards also tweeted: “Are the cleaners on recess too? My desk has so many coffee rings it looks like Saturn.”
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Between 2008 and 2013, Australian-born 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.”
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Ms Edwards was elected as an MP at the general election in July with 15,403 votes.
She unseated Tory MP Kelly Tolhurst, who had represented the Kent constituency since 2015.
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Ms Tolhurst, said she was “shocked and concerned by the views held by” Ms Edwards.
In a post on X, she added: “She had no concern airing them publicly when working for a Labour MP, only deleting them after public pressure. Holding these divisive and unpleasant views she now represents our towns and community.”
