Um. So. Michael Gove is having a moment.
I set trends dem man copy https://t.co/85mTHXaZDn— Michael Gove (@Michael Gove) 1574771527
Yes, that is a cabinet minister (and leading Brexiteer) tweeting in what can only be described as a mock version of MLE (multicultural London English), a dialect which is influenced by cockney merged with elements of English spoken in the Caribbean, Indian Subcontinent and parts of Africa.
MLE is mainly spoken by young working class people... basically, not Michael Gove.
The meltdown was in response to Angela Rayner's kind of iconic tweet that Michael Gove is "crap at both" – meaning being a rapper, and a political analyst.
It's all part of Gove's beef with Stormzy, who is a vocal Labour supporter.
And Michael Gove is crap at both 😜 https://t.co/UgCLL94lwB— Angela Rayner (@Angela Rayner) 1574770358
(One does wonder when Angela Rayner last heard Gove rap... but perhaps it's better not to know.)
If Gove thinks tweeting Stormzy lyrics at Stormzy is an example of "rapping", he is even more confused about how music works than he was about how the education system functions.
Clearly, the racial undertones of his response are hugely problematic, as many people have pointed out.
He knows exactly what he’s doing here. This is naked anti-black trolling, and he’s revelling in being able to do it… https://t.co/6zuvT7lw47— Tom Williams (@Tom Williams) 1574773644
Hi @metpoliceuk how do I report this as a hate crime https://t.co/mKYdVpCZHh— There’s No Point (@There’s No Point) 1574772242
"We've got Labour on the defensive over racism." Michael Gove, "Hold my crack pipe." https://t.co/hKGKNZjM17— James Doleman (@James Doleman) 1574772876
Michael Gove is a racist badger-killing Tory who thinks poor people are in that position because of their own fault… https://t.co/S6Ry9W3eaS— Hollie-Anne Brooks ♿️ (She/her) (@Hollie-Anne Brooks ♿️ (She/her)) 1574772244
Good of Gove to try and deflect attention away from Labour with a bit of racism of his own https://t.co/LnTWKiBw83— John Crace (@John Crace) 1574772082
It's so so awful that people are actually concerned there may be something really wrong.
For the love of God just say no #cocaine https://t.co/iX5cVvgBqq— Ava Vidal ‘Receipt Queen Strikes Again’ 🇩🇲🇧🇧 (@Ava Vidal ‘Receipt Queen Strikes Again’ 🇩🇲🇧🇧) 1574773797
The election campaign has eaten itself. Send for help. https://t.co/1jlPKgzy3J— Rachel Wearmouth (@Rachel Wearmouth) 1574771963
U ok hun @michaelgove https://t.co/CElktZsQk9— H (@H) 1574774592
The whole internet has basically turned into one big collective cringe.
i want to burn off my eyes https://t.co/licuIjGlGz— ikran (@ikran) 1574771710
RIP just died of embarrassment https://t.co/KJbGAE6qDo— Tash Salmon (@Tash Salmon) 1574772474
I'm genetically Irish and I was raised in the UK. I'm as white as it gets and I'm sat here thinking, damn, this is… https://t.co/TAQbnqEprm— Wobble Me Bongos (@Wobble Me Bongos) 1574772818
@michaelgove https://t.co/n04igEPMI4— Dezzee Rascal (@Dezzee Rascal) 1574772355
And in very much related news, today is your last day to register to vote...
I've changed my mind and now back Jo Swinson's plans for total nuclear annihilation. https://t.co/uhuvEqn9B1— Reiss Smith (@Reiss Smith) 1574773090
MORE: It took Emily Maitlis less than a minute to savage the Tories' Brexit pledge
MORE: Five incredibly expensive sums the Tories have spent on Brexit so far