Over the past two years, one social media app has taken the world by storm. No, not the Matt Hancock app. It’s TikTok.
The video sharing platform has made millionaires of dancing teens, completely changed the way people consume and release music, reshaped the way we talk (see: seggs, unalive and POV if in doubt), and fundamentally messed with our attention span in ways we likely can’t even comprehend yet.
But there’s one thing on TikTok that really isn’t ahead of its time. It’s the age old trend of politicians joining social media platforms to boost their likeability. Unfortunately for them, though, TikTok is not somewhere you can easily come across well. Its video format is exposing, its audience discerning and its very, very ahead of the curve.
Don’t believe me? You can measure it using the lightning/thunder technique: The time it takes for a trend, which emanated on one app, to ultimately reach the long forgotten lands of Facebook. And how far ahead is TikToks lightning/thunder rate, you ask? Nearly a month. Yeesh.
Basically, there’s nowhere to hide on TikTok. But it’s the “hot app of the moment” so more and more British politicians are purchasing ring lights, setting up mini tripods and - most importantly - consulting the youngest members of their staff for help. So who’s already on there? Let’s have a rundown.
Dr Luke Evans, MP for Hinckley and Bosworth, Conservative
This Leicestershire based MP (and GP) is an avid user of TikTok and posts regularly. He responds to comments and posts Q+As, as well as videos of him dressing for Tory party conference, holding military weapons and... slow-mo walking vids. You really can’t make it up.
Evans has 38.1k followers on TikTok and is one of the most consistent at posting his daily life as a politician (if that’s what you want to see). He’s kind of like a YouTuber in 2012, except he runs part of this country. Normal!
Strengths: Very regular poster
Weaknesses: Uses viral sounds, no matter how badly
Zarah Sultana, MP for Coventry South, Labour
This Labour party rising star was elected as the MP for Coventry South in 2019 and has been ruffling feathers ever since. She’s young, she’s strong in her opinions, and she’s... actually got loads of followers on TikTok. Sultana has amassed a whopping 604k followers and 6.4 million likes. Her post regularly reach over 100k views (can even scale up to the millions) and frequently feature her work for the Enough Is Enough campaign she leads alongside RMT chief Mick Lynch.
Strengths: Mick Lynch cameos
Weaknesses: Fan of maxing out the TikTok time limit - clips are long
Penny Mordaunt, MP for Portsmouth North, Conservative
As part of her failed quest to become Prime Minister, Portsmouth North MP joined TikTok two days ago and currently has just two posts, both clearly formulated by a social media team and both simply stating her desire to become PM and leader of the Conservative party. The sad, lonely two posts are only made sadder by the fact Mordaunt today had to stand down and declare her whole hearted support for Rishi. (Watch as those TikToks get deleted in the next 24 hours, you can guarantee it).
Strengths: Has put her direct government phone number in her bio
Weaknesses: Only two posts. Go girl give us nothing!
Jeremy Corbyn, MP for Islington North, Independent
The 73-year-old independent MP for Islington North is the oldest MP to be present on TikTok, but given the history of Corbynmania and his very own “whoa, Jeremy Corbyn” Glastonbury chant in 2017, it makes a lot of sense for him to be on the app.
He’s popular too, with 40.1k followers and 206k likes, and he knows what his audience wants. Corbyn recently posted a TikTok recreating a famous video of him which became a meme - “Hi, how you doing, we’re back, and we’re ready for it all over again!” - albeit kind of messing it up, but his followers adored it. The top comment, with over 4,000 likes, reads: “I literally love you so much Jezza.”
Strengths: Wholesome grandad-esque content
Weaknesses: What Gen Z kids would call a “boomer pause”, aka the gap between the start of filming and the person talking, at the start of each TikTok, see below TikTok for reference
Matt Hancock, MP for West Suffolk, Conservative
King of social media Matt Hancock is obviously on TikTok and he’s got a modest 17.4k followers, but this actually results in his account being very interactive. Hancock’s main content is him responding to followers’ comments, including how he thinks England will do in the Cricket World Cup (”It’s so hard to know”), which football team he supports (”Newcastle”), and what job he had before he became an MP - this one’s a thrilling watch but cannot be summarised due to its length.
Sadly, Hancock’s TikTok has yet to feature any content of him doing his favourite photo op exercise - bouldering - but we can only hope for it to happen one day.
Strengths: Pleasantly naive
Weaknesses: Bit boring
Dehenna Davison, MP for Bishop Auckland, Conservative
Tory MP Dehenna Davidson has a smaller presence on TikTok than her peers, but that’s not to say it isn’t just as worthy of a space on this list. To introduce you to the type of content you can expect from Davison, her TikTok bio states that she was once called “the MP for Fiat 500s” - meaning women who own Fiat 500 cars. That should sum it up pretty well.
Davison has just 3k followers but is committed to her TikTok account, even using it to advertise parliamentary jobs and subtweet the Labour party.
Strengths: Small follower size gives it a grassroots feel
Weaknesses: Petty
Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East, Labour
Of course the UK’s youngest MP is on TikTok - and of course her TikTok is one of the least boomer-esque of them all. Whittome has a handsome 42.7k followers on the app and a series of fairly popular videos. She usually posts interview clips of herself, videos of her talking to the camera to explain political events, and footage from protests she’s attended. It’s also about 10 per cent more aesthetically pleasing than all the other MPs TikToks.
Strengths: Minimal second hand embarrassment
Weaknesses: Bit dry
