There’s been a late entry to the weirdest Twitter spats of 2016 contest and it comes in from politician Michael Gove and restaurant critic Jay Rayner. Intrigued?
It all began when Rayner tweeted this innocent-enough-seeming tweet about trying to shift some sales of his book, The Ten (Food) Commandments, before Christmas.
If you're a cafe/deli/butchers stocking 10 food commandments tweet me a pic of your stock and I'll Rt to shift last min sales…
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) December 21, 2016
Realistically he might have expected a bit of stick from people on Twitter for such shameless self-promotion, but he probably didn’t expect the former secretary of state to wade in and have a pop.
But he did with the cryptic comment: “All above board”.
All above board https://t.co/6REPswVJbi
— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) December 21, 2016
Hmm. Rayner responded, confused.
@michaelgove you have a problem with me tweeting on behalf of retailers who are stocking a book I wrote?
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) December 21, 2016
To which he got this sassy reply.
@jayrayner1 sensitive?
— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) December 21, 2016
Which was volleyed back with this valid response.
@michaelgove not especially, just curious as to why you are suggesting there's something wrong with me promoting my own book.
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) December 21, 2016
And then Gove seemed to conclude his argument with this.
@jayrayner1 food writer says to food outlets please give me good publicity and I will give you good publicity…
— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) December 21, 2016
And people just found the whole interaction a bit odd really.
@michaelgove @jayrayner1 stop the press food writer promotes own book…..what a disgrace 😂😂😂 go to bed you odd little man
— Sharon 🐷🐷🐷 (@PonderinginLee) December 21, 2016
@michaelgove Yes. A public request posted on twitter is pretty much the definition of above board.
You are so rubbish.— Simon Kane (@slepkane) December 22, 2016
@michaelgove Don't drink and tweet at Christmas
— Wogan Jones (@Wogan_Jones) December 21, 2016
@michaelgove @jayrayner1 You don't really 'get' capitalism, do you?
— Derek Lucas (@_Ginnungagap) December 22, 2016
And loads of people managed to compare it to the EU referendum and all the drama that came with it.
@michaelgove if you're not happy with the way @jayrayner1 operates, why don't you befriend him & then stab him in the back at a later date?
— Hungry Hoss (@HungryHoss) December 21, 2016
@michaelgove @jayrayner1 it's more above board than lying to the country over Brexit, stabbing Boris in the back & being a failed politician
— Richard Coles (@RichardColes) December 22, 2016
@michaelgove @jayrayner1 Are you upset because Jay is a food expert and you're sick of experts?
— Dexter St Jock (@grumpydip) December 22, 2016
Even First Dates’ maitre D Fred had something to say.
Given your #Brexit and latest leadership track records you are hardly qualified to pass a moral judgement @michaelgove @jayrayner1 #irony
— Fred Sirieix (@fredsirieix1) December 22, 2016
So yep, no one’s over Brexit just yet.
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