A Manchester MP has caused a stir on Twitter over the message her t-shirt carried in the city's Pride parade. Lucy Powell was one of a large contingent of Labour Party members who took part in the parade yesterday to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
It was the first Manchester Pride parade for three years, with the much-loved pillar of the event having not taken place in 2020 or 2021 due to Covid. MPs and councillors were among the Labour members who marched during the event, including Ms Powell.
But even before the event kicked off, the Manchester Central MP had already sparked a debate on Twitter over the t-shirt she was wearing. Sharing a picture on Twitter with the message 'Manchester Pride ready', Ms Powell showed off her red Labour t-shirt carrying the message: "Never kissed a Tory."
It's not the first time Labour members have worn the t-shirts during Pride events across the UK, but it still evoked a strong response on Twitter. Chris Clarkson, Heywood and Middleton's Conservative MP, was not a fan of the T-shirt.
He wrote on Twitter: "Puerile, divisive and completely against the spirit of inclusion that Pride is supposed to embody. Grow up." Sara Britcliffe, Conservative MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, added: "And this is the problem. Creating an Us v them. Quite disgusting from a shadow minister. A difference of political belief should not result in hate."
It wasn't just Conservative members who criticised the t-shirt either. John Haywood, a Labour councillor in Hampshire, wrote @ringwodian: "I know that having to shadow Nadine Dorries can do funny things to the best of us, but this does rather seem rather like an unforced error to me."
Other Twitter users agreed, with @rob_w_r writing: "Maybe let people kiss whoever they damn well please." Yet there was some support for the t-shirt, as @Hillfootsmike tweeted: "Tories are in meltdown over this fine Ladies t shirt."
Coun Pat Karney, Manchester Council's city centre spokesperson, replied to Ms Powell's tweet: "Always there for the LGBT Community in our City. And a good approach to life on your T."
And @ZippieSteve felt the t-shirt was justified, writing: "If only the Tory's who are getting upset about a T-shirt were as upset about 12 years of gross systemic disability rights infringements there would be no need for the T-shirt in the first place."
Meanwhile, another Greater Manchester MP denied wearing the t-shirt during Manchester Pride. Bury South's Christian Wakeford crossed the floor from the Conservatives to Labour earlier this year, and joined party members for the parade.
He shared an image from the parade alongside party members wearing the same t-shirt as Ms Powell, adding: "Amazing atmosphere at Manchester Pride this weekend and incredibly proud to lead from the front with @LGBTLabour." But in a later tweet, he clarified he was not donning the same outfit, with a photo showing a simple red LGBT Labour t-shirt instead.
He wrote: "For all the very bizarre and angry people in my mentions I didn’t have the t shirt on they all think. I’ve always been a proud ally of those who are LGBT regardless of political parties so turn it in and have a lie down."
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