IS there anyone who can destroy trolls on Twitter better than Mhairi Black?
The SNP MP is frequently the subject of vile insults on Twitter – misogynistic and homophobic abuse among them.
In fact, Black was the first MP to use the c word in Parliament, as she quoted some of the language hurled her way.
Of course, some of those attacking her have deleted their tweets but Black's best responses to trolls are below.
1. The time she used homophobic abuse as a warning to her followers
In the exchange below professional troll Katie Hopkins described Black's colleague as a "thing" prompting Twitter users to tag Black in the tweet.
Look at the state of this thing. SNP MP who wants to ban Trump. Presumably her shower is broken? pic.twitter.com/03Kek5PvDD
— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) January 18, 2016
Black handled the exchange with dignity, using the incident as an opportunity to stand up for LGBT rights.
@_Genius_Loci it's 'Mhairi'. At least spell the name right when you're insulting the gruff, rather young lesbian* https://t.co/pvJk45pOHh
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) January 19, 2016
She later encouraged fellow users not to tolerate such abuse, educating her followers about homophobic language and online safety.
For any gay women who see or receive abuse like this, please know, it's not normal and it's not okay. #LGBT https://t.co/NinY9Exu4K
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) January 20, 2016
2.
"James" tweeted at her to say: "When I look at you I instantly think, lesbian."
Black responded: "Inspiring observational skills you have James. I'm willing to wager that when straight women see you they think nothing at all."
Inspiring observational skills you have James. I’m willing to wager that when straight women see you they think nothing at all. https://t.co/fhKxaSqHci
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) December 12, 2018
3. The times she hit back at sexism
While there's no record of what Black was responding to with the following sexist tweet, we suspect you can guess roughly what it said.
"Are you confused about my gender or is this the first time you’ve realised women are allowed to stand as MPs? Cause we can own land and everything now anol."
Are you confused about my gender or is this the first time you’ve realised women are allowed to stand as MPs? Cause we can own land and everything now anol. https://t.co/7HcYQhyjNF
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) December 12, 2018
4.
After tweeting about a rally against the Tories rape clause policy, Black was told: "She's got nothing to worry about. Nobody's gonna wanna rape that."
She linked to the original deleted tweet.
These kind of tweets are exactly the reason why we woman still have a long, hard fight ahead of ourselves. #RapeClause https://t.co/LtYJnZilnk
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) April 13, 2017
And another one...#rapeclause https://t.co/IryN30tvMq
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) April 13, 2017
5. The time she hit back at Tories "wrapped in Labour clothing"
Black hit out at Scottish Labour MP Ian Murray, calling him a "Tory wrapped up in Labour clothing" for criticising her voting record – when she has missed Parliament time due to being sick and unable to work.
Did you vote against the Tory budget last night @MhairiBlack? To make it easy for you the answer is no you didn’t. Maybe you should turn up a bit more often. Worst attendance and voting record in parliament. https://t.co/gKAfdNGWPR
— Ian Murray (@IanMurrayMP) February 22, 2018
A SECOND Labour MP, Paul Sweeney, then weighed in on the debate and Black had to defend herself for being ill again. What on earth are Scottish Labour playing at?
Considering that Mhairi Black didn't even show up in Parliament last night to vote against the Tories' austerity max Finance Bill, and has barely turned up at all, she has quite the chutzpah to then pen this hatchet job. So much for being a political 'signpost' as Tony Benn said. https://t.co/N1u9zfssPG
— Paul Sweeney MP (@PaulJSweeney) February 22, 2018
6. The time she shut down this tweeter over her attendance record.
Top patter Mark, you’ll be playing the Fringe next.
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) December 11, 2018
7. The time she tweeted her disbelief at Unionists' loyalty to Westminster
There’s simply no way you could compare events in Holyrood and Westminster over the past week and come to the conclusion that Westminster is the “real” Parliament. https://t.co/yN2aibDI2C
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) December 13, 2018
8.
Unionist Twitter is where patter goes to die. https://t.co/SKEAp5sagK
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) 12 December 2018
9. The time she exposed grown men for getting offended after she called the Brexit vote a "riddy"
It’s an absolute riddy that the Prime Minister tabled tonight’s motion and ended up voting against it. The entire thing was just another ploy to try and scare the ERG into voting for her deal yesterday. An absolute embarrassment. #NoDealVote
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) March 13, 2019
Mental how many grown men are in my mentions absolutely triggered by the word riddy. 🙄 https://t.co/ei11KSF1JF
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) March 14, 2019
10. The time she revealed she was eating discreetly eating a Kit-Kat and not, as one tweeter suggested, taking cocaine in Parliament
The (now deleted) tweet said: “@MhairiBlack caught rubbing your gums in Parliament with white powder??? @theSNP suspension surely. @NicolaSturgeon really shouldn’t have addicts in her party.”
But the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South hit back as she told how she’d simply been scoffing a chocolate bar.
Ms Black tweeted: “Happy to clarify that I was, in fact, attempting to pocket munch a KitKat that turned out to be melted. I would like now to apologise to my colleagues for my sleekitness in hiding the KitKat so I didn’t have to share.”
Happy to clarify that I was, in fact, attempting to pocket munch a KitKat that turned out to be melted. I would like now to apologise to my colleagues for my sleekitness in hiding the KitKat so I didn’t have to share. https://t.co/sdpAr6xgCK
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) December 18, 2018
11. The time she put a troll in his place for doubting her top grades.
In a now deleted tweet, the tweeter said Black "defo sat foundy classes in school".
A "foundy class", if you don’t know, is slang for "foundation", the easiest exam that Scottish pupils took at Standard Grade
Defo got a 1st in Politics and Public Policy from Glasgow Uni you boring elitist. https://t.co/matzhQQICZ
— Mhairi Black MP (@MhairiBlack) March 13, 2019
This is what standing up for Scotland's interests at Westminster looks like.
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