A Labour MP has opened up about the “horror” she experienced for the first time after a collection of old racist tweets resurfaced.
Lauren Edwards, who ousted the Tories in Rochester and Strood last summer, said she had made a “significant error of judgement” with the tweets.
A tweet posted in June 2009 said: “I want these f****** Estonian r****ds out of my flat now!”
Speaking exclusively to the Kent Politics Podcast, Edwards explained how “it was a different time with social media” when she posted the tweets, adding that she could see what they looked like taken out of context.
Edwards claimed she was living in a house share with an Estonian in her early 20’s, who kept her awake throwing parties.
A Medway resident was not pleased by the explanation, saying: “why do people see Baltic states as fair game [for racism]? Give yourself to the police! We demand justice!”
At the time, Edwards said she “deeply regrets” the resurfaced social media posts – they have now been deleted.
The drama came just a month after the Rochester and Strood MP had been elected and followed social media activity from her calling for calm on the summer riots.
Since the podcast aired, some social media users have left comments on Edward’s public Facebook page, saying that she should delete her profile and resign.
Edwards maintains that she did the right thing by staying off social media for a while, adding: “now, I’m focused on delivering for those voters who voted for me.”