Independent Media | Campaigning Journalism
Owen Smith just tried to ‘out’ a John McDonnell staffer on Twitter and got the wrong guy
Failed Labour leadership candidate MP Owen Smith isn’t having a very good weekend. He jumped in on a Twitter thread to apparently ‘out’ John McDonnell’s communications chief, James Mills. But Smith got the wrong guy and social media users had a field day.
Well, it’s some Labour bloke called James
Twitter user @James4Labour joined in a conversation about Labour’s policy on Brexit and a second referendum. They tweeted:
We did! We were offered a second referendum by @OwenSmith_MP: he was rejected overwhelmingly.
Labour also ran on a manifesto pledge respecting the referendum result: to leave.
We increased vote share & number of MPs.
Jeremy elected leader- overwhelmingly- AFTER ref. result.
Read on...
Support us and go ad-free— James! (@James4Labour) May 26, 2018
Smith, however, couldn’t help himself. Seemingly believing ‘James’ was Mills, he attempted to ‘out’ him, evidently thinking this was Mills’ anonymous social media profile. It was a cheap dig:
Hey, someone told me this evening that you are James Mills who works for John McDonnell. Haven’t you got some proper work to do, James?
— Owen Smith (@OwenSmith_MP) May 26, 2018
But as @James4Labour was quick to point out:
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha.
I’ve never heard of James Mills.
Haven’t you got something better to do with your time?
I’m sure the good folk of @johnmcdonnellMP’s office aren’t foolish enough to use the same name if they were operating undercover.
You’re embarrassing.
— James! (@James4Labour) May 26, 2018
And Twitter fell about laughing at the failed Labour leadership candidate:
— Rachael Swindon #GTTO (@Rachael_Swindon) May 26, 2018
— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) May 26, 2018
The serious side
But as other people pointed out there is a serious side to what Smith did:
You actually think this is an appropriate way to raise an issue about someone you have been “told” is a staff member? What if what you have been told is not true ? Or if it is true public shaming of Party staff? Really?
— Emina Ibrahim (@Emina_ibrahim) May 26, 2018
And others pointed out that higher standards of verification should be expected from an MP:
Seriously. Incorrectly doxing someone on Twitter based on the word of a single anonymous source isn't a good look for an MP.
You obviously really upset him when you reminded him of his humiliating defeat in the leadership election 😂😂
— Karl Barx (@dieselblaze) May 26, 2018
But it seems Smith wasn’t even prepared to offer an apology. @James4Labour contacted him to ask:
Morning @OwenSmith_MP,
I’m still not James Mills.
What time can we expect your apology?
Thanks,@James4Labour! https://t.co/kZH42ZQV3s
— James! (@James4Labour) May 27, 2018
Smith responded by calling them a “troll”:
‘Morning, Troll. What’s your name again?
— Owen Smith (@OwenSmith_MP) May 27, 2018
It’s easy to make mistakes and wrongly identify people on Twitter. But no one, let alone an MP, should be publicly trying to expose someone if they’ve chosen to keep their anonymity: especially via hearsay.
Having done so, and then getting the wrong person, the least Smith could do is offer an apology.
At least we can just be thankful he didn’t end up as Labour leader.
Get Involved!
– Support The Canary
Featured image via Wikimedia/Chris McAndrew and Wikimedia/Alex E. Proimos
We need your help to keep speaking the truth
Every story that you have come to us with; each injustice you have asked us to investigate; every campaign we have fought; each of your unheard voices we amplified; we do this for you. We are making a difference on your behalf.
Our fight is your fight. You’ve supported our collective struggle every time you gave us a like; and every time you shared our work across social media. Now we need you to support us with a monthly donation.
We have published nearly 2,000 articles and over 50 films in 2021. And we want to do this and more in 2022 but we don’t have enough money to go on at this pace. So, if you value our work and want us to continue then please join us and be part of The Canary family.
In return, you get:
* Advert free reading experience
* Quarterly group video call with the Editor-in-Chief
* Behind the scenes monthly e-newsletter
* 20% discount in our shop
Almost all of our spending goes to the people who make The Canary’s content. So your contribution directly supports our writers and enables us to continue to do what we do: speaking truth, powered by you. We have weathered many attempts to shut us down and silence our vital opposition to an increasingly fascist government and right-wing mainstream media.
With your help we can continue:
* Holding political and state power to account
* Advocating for the people the system marginalises
* Being a media outlet that upholds the highest standards
* Campaigning on the issues others won’t
* Putting your lives central to everything we do
We are a drop of truth in an ocean of deceit. But we can’t do this without your support. So please, can you help us continue the fight?
Support us 
