Intrigue over vanishing tweet announcing Grayling as Conservative Party Chairman
The conservative party has deleted a tweet announcing its new chairman, adding a touch of drama to Monday’s cabinet reshuffle. Chris Grayling was announced as chairman, causing a stir online when the tweet was retracted.
What had been expected to be a run-of-the-mill reshuffle is now shrouded in drama and intrigue, with twitter exploding with speculation over what the disappearing announcement could mean.
The action kicked off at 11.04am, when Grayling was tipped as new party chairman on Twitter. 36 minutes later, the BBC ‘confirmed’ the posting.
BBC confirming Grayling appointment but advisers saying its speculation and he hasn't been to no10 yet. The Conservatives had tweeted a congrats, though its now disappeared. What is going on!? pic.twitter.com/8GDc0RE4kS
— Anushka Asthana (@GuardianAnushka) January 8, 2018
Laura Kuenssberg, the BBC’s political editor, cited two unnamed sources when she named Grayling as chairman.
Chris Grayling, Party Chairman for 1 day (er, minute), succeeded by Brandon Lewis. pic.twitter.com/StAgLOue1I
— Chris Barrett (@cr15b) January 8, 2018
At 11.43, A Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) staffer allegedly saw the BBC report and assumed it was correct, tweeting it from the @Conservatives account.
Hello and welcome to Schrodinger's Party Chairman, Chris Grayling is both Chairman and Not Chairman at the same time. pic.twitter.com/u2ki6XxHk7
— Ned Donovan (@Ned_Donovan) January 8, 2018
According to the Times, the man behind the rogue tweet was CCHQ political director Iain Carter. He also sent a graphic depicting Grayling’s glory through the conservative MPs’ WhatsApp group, resulting in MPs also re-tweeting the blunder.
Immigration minister Brandon Lewis now been confirmed as the Conservative Party Chair - but not before another embarrassing gaffe for the conservative party.
Reshuffle chaos latest: after Chris Grayling error, No 10 tweets that Brandon Lewis is new party chair, then deletes and tweets again after they spell "minister without portfolio" as "porfolio"{h/t to @TSEofPB for spotting error) pic.twitter.com/VhzHQywgDA
— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) January 8, 2018
Lewis has served as Minister of State for Immigration since June 2017, and was elected as MP for Great Yarmouth in 2010.
MP James Cleverly was also confirmed as Deputy Chair.
Very pleased to confirm @JamesCleverly as our new Deputy Chairman. We will also have a host of brilliant new Vice Chairs
— Carrie Symonds (@carriesymonds) January 8, 2018
