In a moment of spectacular political embarrassment, Conservative MP Tom Hunt has become the laughing stock of Westminster after an ill-advised social media post backfired in dramatic fashion.
The Rant That Went Wrong
The Ipswich MP took to social media platform X to vent his frustration about ongoing issues with train services, unleashing an angry tirade directed at what he thought was the official Greater Anglia account.
"Another day and another cancelled train from Greater Anglia," Hunt fumed, adding his signature hashtag #greaterangliafailure for good measure.
Little did he realise he'd actually tagged Rail Minister Huw Merriman - the very man responsible for overseeing the nation's railway system and a fellow Conservative MP.
The Minister's Icy Response
Merriman didn't miss a beat in delivering a masterclass in political shade. "Thanks Tom. I'm the Rail Minister. I'll take this up with Greater Anglia for you," he coolly responded, adding salt to the wound with a polite "Happy to discuss".
The exchange immediately went viral, with social media users quick to spot the hilarious blunder. One user perfectly captured the mood: "This is the most Tory MP thing I've ever seen."
A Pattern of Railway Woes
This isn't the first time Hunt has clashed with rail operators. Last month, the MP publicly demanded Greater Anglia refund season ticket holders after yet another day of significant disruption affected his constituents.
However, this latest incident suggests the frustrated MP might need to work on checking his tags before hitting post on his complaints.
Social Media Reaction
The online response was merciless, with users flooding the platform with memes and jokes at the MP's expense:
- "This is absolutely beautiful"
- "You really do have to laugh"
- "The secondhand embarrassment is real"
The incident serves as a stark reminder to all politicians: in the age of social media, it pays to check who you're actually complaining to before pressing send.
