Explaining UK debt with biscuits: Labour MPs get the hang of viral content

Labour MPs Crack the Code on Viral Videos and Social Media Campaigning, Leaving Critics in the Dust.

When it comes to conveying complex economic messages, even Labour MPs are struggling to find their footing - until one member of parliament (MP), Gordon McKee, turned to a most unlikely source: biscuits. The Glasgow South MP racked up over 3.3 million views on X with a 101-second video that used stacks of custard creams and chocolate bourbons to explain the UK's debt-to-GDP ratio.

Not to be outdone, several other Labour MPs have taken to social media in recent weeks, including Richard Burgon, who used an astonishing 200 packets of fusilli pasta to demonstrate just how much £1 billion is compared to the average UK salary. His video has garnered nearly 650,000 views on X, and his parliamentary researcher bought the fusilli at a church fair in the constituency - it was later donated to food banks.

Other MPs have followed suit with creative content of their own. Jeevun Sandher, an economist MP for Loughborough, produced a James Bond-themed video explaining government bond rates, while Dan Tomlinson, the Treasury exchequer secretary, chatted about pre-budget plans on his way to a Gregg's doughnut at Westminster tube station.

The Labour party has also taken notice of the trend and is ramping up its own social media efforts. Keir Starmer recently announced a "significant investment" in digital campaigning, while the party's Operation Second Term aims to modernise its campaign operation using social media and an app called Labour One.

Despite the success of these efforts, the challenge for Labour remains: communicating complex policies in an engaging and simple way. McKee notes that the task is particularly acute for progressives like himself, who must articulate ambitious but realistic arguments on topics ranging from economic policy to taxation.
 
omg i love how gordon mckee used biscuits to explain economics lol it's so genius! 💡 whoever came up with that idea should get a raise 🤑 i mean who needs boring charts when you can just show some tasty treats? 🍪👏 i'm also loving the creativity of the other MPs, especially richard burgon's fusilli pasta vid 😂 it shows they're not afraid to think outside the box (or packet, in this case) 🤣 and yeah, keir starmer's investment in digital campaigning is a great move 💻 let's hope labour can keep up the good work and make complex policies less daunting for us all 💪
 
OMG 🤯 I'm loving this new trend from our MPs on social media! 😂 Who knew biscuits could be a key to understanding debt-to-GDP ratios? 💡 The creativity and use of relatable things like pasta and doughnuts are genius! 🍝👏 It shows that they're willing to think outside the box (or in this case, the parliament) to connect with us on social media. 😊

But seriously, I'm glad to see Labour taking a more proactive approach to digital campaigning. 💻 The fact that Keir Starmer is investing in it is a huge step forward for the party. 🚀 And I think it's awesome that they're using social media and apps like Labour One to engage with voters and share their message. 💬

However, as McKee points out, there's still work to be done to make complex policies more accessible and engaging for everyone. 🤔 Can our MPs really explain how the NHS works in a way that 3-year-olds can understand? 😂 Maybe we need to think about simplifying our language and using analogies like biscuits or pasta to break it down! 🍪👀
 
You can't make a good first impression with a bad last impression 😂. It's all about consistency! Even Labour MPs are now using social media to reach out to their constituents - it shows they're willing to adapt and evolve, which is key in politics 🤝.
 
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