Emily Thornberry, a senior Labour MP, has resigned from Ed Miliband's shadow cabinet after posting a picture of a house covered in St George's flags during the Rochester and Strood by-election. The shadow attorney general, who represents Islington South and Finsbury, initially defended the tweet but later apologised for any offence caused.
The row erupted after Thornberry tweeted the image, which showed a semi-detached house draped in flags with a white van parked outside. Critics, including Labour MP Simon Danczuk, accused her of snobbery, saying the tweet was 'derogatory and dismissive of the people'. Ukip leader Nigel Farage claimed Thornberry had 'let Miliband's mask slip'.
Thornberry initially hit back, suggesting her critics held a 'prejudiced attitude towards Islington'. She explained she was trying to give followers a picture of the by-election, adding she had 'never seen a house where people can't see out of the window because of England flags'. However, after a dressing-down from Miliband, she apologised, saying 'people should fly the England flag with pride'.
Hours later, Thornberry resigned from the shadow cabinet, stating she would not let anything distract from Labour's chance to win the general election. The incident is set to dominate media coverage following the by-election, which is expected to show Ukip triumphing over the Conservatives and other parties.
