Yahoo News Watch (if you dare): Nadine Dorries turns rapper on TikTok
Nadine Dorries, in her role as Culture Secretary, is expected to display interest in every corner of the arts.
But who among us could have guessed that she would turn her hand to rap?
In a 41-second video that is unlikely to cause Nicki Minaj any sleepless nights, Ms Dorries has explained the Online Safety Bill to her 11,000 TikTok followers.
“The UK is passing some new legislation,” she begins, “to make the internet safer for the younger generation.”
Her voice superimposed over a hip-hop beat, Ms Dorries continues. “It’s effectively a framework to protect internet users / From scams, illegal content, and anonymous abusers.”
The lyrical coup de grâce occurs a little later. “But is it true it will impact freedom of expression? / No! We’ve put in legal protections in the 19th section.”
@nadinedorriesmp How we’re making the internet safer 🖐🏻🎤 #onlinesafety #internet #ukpolitics #nadinedorries #news #government #law #freespeech #content #blowthisup #fyp ♬ Funny Song - Cavendish Music
In common with convention on the video-sharing site TikTok, Ms Dorries delivers her lines to her phone’s front camera, with the rap performed across several pieces of footage that have been subsequently stitched together. Lyrics and emojis – as well as pictures of the legislative documents to which she refers – appear frequently.
The video ends with a mic drop, a gesture made famous by Barack Obama. Predictably, the ensemble attracted some social media derision. “I’m really glad it” – the bill – “gives Ofcom the power to fine,” said TikTok user Alicia Dillon. “That worked so well as a deterrent for Boris when he was fined by the Met.”
On the other hand, there was some praise for Ms Dorries too. “My favourite MP – multi-talented. Author. Empowering women. Style. Inspiring,” offered an anonymous toady.
“Author *and* rap artist,” replied Ms Dorries.
'Downstream… movies'
The MP for Mid Bedfordshire has previous with unwarranted TikTok ridicule. In a video posted by the account of her fellow Tory MP Luke Jones, Ms Dorries said superfast broadband would allow people to “downstream… movies” and referred to “tennis pitches”.
Ms Dorries later said that her dyslexia sometimes prevents her from finding the optimal terminology for what she is trying to express.
Ms Dorries has been joined on TikTok by the Prime Minister, whose first video was shared on May 11. “You won’t necessarily catch me dancing on this site, but you will have all sorts of stuff about what we’re doing to deliver on our priorities, deliver for you on our agenda of uniting and levelling up our country,” Boris Johnson says in the short clip.
