Tory MP Philip Davies says joining Twitter was one of the worst mistakes of his life as ‘all my 16,000 followers hate me’
The controversial politician made the admission in a debate about who should be considered a journalist
CONTROVERSIAL MP Philip Davies has revealed that joining Twitter was “probably one of the worst things I have ever done in my life”.
He said he has “about 16,000 followers, all of whom hate me”, during a parliamentary debate about who should be considered a journalist.
Mr Davies, the Tory member for Shipley in West Yorkshire, has repeatedly made headlines in recent years for wrecking changes to the law by the process of ‘talking out’ nills.
He recently filibustered in an attempt to derail a bill aimed at protecting women against violence.
It was not the first time the 45-year-old angered feminists, after attacking so-called “feminist zealots” last year after being elected to Parliament’s Women and Equalities Committee.
Often the subject of anger from the left on the web, he said agreeing to join the social network had opened him up to more abuse.
He told his fellow MPs in the Commons: “I am not entirely sure how many people are not on Twitter or Facebook - they are the sensible ones as far as I am concerned - but probably not that many.
“I am not on Facebook, but I am on Twitter. I regard going on Twitter as probably one of the worst things I have ever done in my life.
“I have about 16,000 followers, all of whom hate me.”
Mr Davies added: “It is very interesting to read what they have to say, but it all seems rather pointless.
“They can hurl as much abuse as they like - it does not bother me - but I am not entirely sure that it gets us anywhere.”
He also revealed he had “always wanted to be a journalist”, and had completed a training course to be a reporter at Sheffield College.