A Bucks MP has been forced to defend herself after being accused of blocking some of her constituents on Twitter “for asking a polite question”.
Beaconsfield MP Joy Morrissey has come under fire after blocking a number of her followers on Twitter who claim all they did was politely question her.
Andrew Stoneman tweeted: “I ask my MP a polite question – how does she decide which local businesses she promotes – and this is what happens.
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“If there is no cause for concern, why would she block me?”
A number of other residents followed suit, with @noisy_nic saying: “And me. I wasn't rude or offensive. I challenged a tweet labelling around 50% of us as being ‘woke’.
“That being around half of her hard-working constituents trying to do their best to understand what is going on.
I ask my MP a polite question - how does she decide which local businesses she promotes - and this is what happens. If there is no cause for concern, why would she block me? @joymorrissey pic.twitter.com/CAvTDJSzrs
— Andrew (@AndrewStoneman) December 8, 2020
Brian Tibbels also shared a screenshot of having been blocked by the MP, who took over the Beaconsfield seat when Dominic Grieve lost it after 22 years as the town’s MP.
But Ms Morrissey’s office says it has a “clear zero-tolerance policy” on abuse and anyone who behaves in a “rude or aggressive manner…will be blocked immediately”.
I wonder if @bucksfreepress can find out why local MP @joymorrissey blocked a constituent for asking a polite question? @AndrewStoneman pic.twitter.com/T3FTzNnzEF
— ᑎIᙅᕼ ᔕTᗩᖇᒪIᑎᘜ 🌹🇪🇺 (@NichStarling) December 8, 2020
Ciaran Ferguson, chairman of Beaconsfield Labour, waded into the row, tweeting: “If @joymorrissey is communicating points that are important to her constituents (Covid tier levels, restrictions. You know, the big stuff) she cannot be blocking them from seeing it.
“Especially not when their only offense is asking questions. Really poor show.”
And me. I wasn't rude or offensive. I challenged a tweet labelling around 50% of us as being 'woke'. That being around half of her hard working constituents trying to do their best to understand what is going on. pic.twitter.com/4uLeDDumut
— Nic (@noisy_nic) December 8, 2020
And Diane Holden, part of the south Bucks Lib Dems, wrote: “It certainly shows she doesn’t appear to want to serve ALL her constituents. Only the ones who agree with her.”
Defending Ms Morrissey, her spokesman said: “All constituents are able to contact Joy Morrissey’s office with any casework or policy queries via letter, email, or telephone.
“Social media has never been utilised by the office for answering constituent’s questions and is not an appropriate platform to do so.
“The office has a clear zero-tolerance policy when it comes to social media. Anyone who behaves in a rude or aggressive manner towards Joy or her staff will be blocked immediately.
“Everything posted on social media channels is also posted onto Joy’s website.
“Anyone who therefore finds themselves blocked can still access all information uploaded by Mrs Morrissey via the website.”
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