You are what you tweet

Our political parties are on Twitter, but what are they talking about?

11 April 2017

Twitter has become an essential tool for the communications teams in party HQs, but with all these bitesize comments flying around it can be hard to get a sense of what each account is all about. Happily though, the Twitter API lets you pull the last c.3,200 entries on a user’s timeline, so I thought it was about time we took a look.

For each of the accounts analysed here I grabbed all of the tweets available via statuses/user_timeline, discarded any entries that were retweets of other users, and with what was left tallied the most frequently used words (excluding common words like “the”, “is” and “are”). You can see the top 100 for each account below.

For the stats geeks amongst you, I also calculated the average number of times that tweets from each account were (a) favourited by other users, and (b) retweeted by other users.

@Conservatives

Of the six accounts analysed here, the Conservatives tweet the least frequently (their earliest entry here is from all the way back in April 2015). But is this because they’re busy governing, or because they don’t really get the internet? RETWEET

21 April 2015 to 07 April 2017
n = 1,054, avg RTs = 68, avg favs = 61

  1. retweet (160)
  2. london (106)
  3. plan (102)
  4. vote (83)
  5. @zacgoldsmith (83)
  6. @george_osborne (76)
  7. economy (74)
  8. greater (73)
  9. people (71)
  10. #ge2015 (70)
  11. congratulations (68)
  12. action (66)
  13. strong (64)
  14. britain (63)
  15. we’re (60)
  16. tax (59)
  17. watch (59)
  18. let (58)
  19. know (58)
  20. #securetherecovery (56)
  21. future (56)
  22. government (56)
  23. new (55)
  24. #voteconservative (54)
  25. friends (54)
  26. keep (53)
  27. conservative (53)
  28. today (51)
  29. deliver (50)
  30. snp (47)
  31. year (47)
  32. labour (47)
  33. let’s (45)
  34. khan (45)
  35. work (44)
  36. get (44)
  37. make (43)
  38. hold (42)
  39. working (41)
  40. since (41)
  41. miliband (41)
  42. ed (40)
  43. #backzac2016 (39)
  44. brighter (39)
  45. secure (38)
  46. million (38)
  47. polls (38)
  48. help (38)
  49. jobs (37)
  50. going (36)
  51. @david_cameron (36)
  52. council (35)
  53. clear (35)
  54. security (34)
  55. may (34)
  56. #budget2017 (32)
  57. @sadiqkhan (32)
  58. find (32)
  59. transport (32)
  60. hole (31)
  61. zac (31)
  62. hours (31)
  63. country (30)
  64. years (30)
  65. build (30)
  66. every (29)
  67. black (29)
  68. delivering (29)
  69. 19bn (28)
  70. 5 (28)
  71. #londondebate (28)
  72. uk (28)
  73. #esmayoral (28)
  74. choice (27)
  75. pay (27)
  76. back (27)
  77. next (27)
  78. 2010 (27)
  79. open (26)
  80. speech (26)
  81. #londontomorrow (26)
  82. investment (26)
  83. businesses (26)
  84. pm (26)
  85. budget (26)
  86. #eshustings (25)
  87. business (25)
  88. means (25)
  89. we’ll (24)
  90. support (24)
  91. one (24)
  92. national (24)
  93. families (23)
  94. left (23)
  95. election (23)
  96. sadiq (23)
  97. rate (23)
  98. party (23)
  99. would (22)
  100. lowest (22)

@UKLabour

The Labour Party are miles ahead when it comes to getting people to favourite and retweet their pearls of wisdom. If that doesn’t send a message to the Tories, nothing will.

30 October 2015 to 09 April 2017
n = 2,265, avg RTs = 198, avg favs = 154

  1. tories (412)
  2. rt (397)
  3. us (314)
  4. vote (259)
  5. nhs (257)
  6. @jeremycorbyn (245)
  7. share (223)
  8. labour (215)
  9. #labourinforbritain (208)
  10. people (200)
  11. remain (183)
  12. agree (181)
  13. today (176)
  14. watch (175)
  15. eu (165)
  16. #euref (159)
  17. rights (155)
  18. britain (153)
  19. #pmqs (145)
  20. tory (144)
  21. join (133)
  22. jobs (131)
  23. may (130)
  24. campaign (122)
  25. says (119)
  26. workers (118)
  27. government (117)
  28. theresa (107)
  29. live (102)
  30. you’re (99)
  31. must (91)
  32. economy (90)
  33. brexit (87)
  34. leave (86)
  35. sign (85)
  36. care (84)
  37. new (83)
  38. register (83)
  39. plan (80)
  40. crisis (79)
  41. tax (79)
  42. make (77)
  43. stand (70)
  44. social (70)
  45. want (69)
  46. working (69)
  47. cuts (69)
  48. million (69)
  49. education (65)
  50. day (63)
  51. find (62)
  52. leadership (61)
  53. work (60)
  54. would (59)
  55. petition (57)
  56. one (57)
  57. tomorrow (57)
  58. action (57)
  59. voting (56)
  60. @johnmcdonnellmp (56)
  61. say (56)
  62. take (55)
  63. sure (55)
  64. #labourdoorstep (54)
  65. year (53)
  66. we’re (53)
  67. jeremy (53)
  68. left (52)
  69. support (52)
  70. put (52)
  71. need (52)
  72. last (51)
  73. schools (50)
  74. cut (49)
  75. #bbcdebate (49)
  76. change (48)
  77. help (48)
  78. protect (47)
  79. #careforthenhs (47)
  80. since (47)
  81. youre (46)
  82. get (45)
  83. cameron (45)
  84. future (44)
  85. funding (44)
  86. back (44)
  87. weekend (43)
  88. question (43)
  89. @tom_watson (42)
  90. thursday (42)
  91. dont (42)
  92. ballot (42)
  93. every (41)
  94. election (41)
  95. #labourtowin (41)
  96. living (41)
  97. 23 (41)
  98. #budget2016 (41)
  99. keep (40)
  100. days (40)

@LibDems

Welcome to the family! Is someone having a membership surge, by any chance?

24 June 2016 to 08 April 2017
n = 1,766, avg RTs = 43, avg favs = 53

  1. welcome (518)
  2. family (421)
  3. @timfarron (323)
  4. #ldconf (288)
  5. us (200)
  6. thanks (160)
  7. support (150)
  8. britain (103)
  9. join (101)
  10. great (100)
  11. brexit (95)
  12. lib (82)
  13. today (79)
  14. people (75)
  15. party (71)
  16. joined (70)
  17. want (67)
  18. hi (58)
  19. europe (56)
  20. dem (55)
  21. hear (53)
  22. we’re (53)
  23. you’ve (49)
  24. eu (48)
  25. help (48)
  26. liberal (45)
  27. uk (45)
  28. via (44)
  29. live (43)
  30. @youtube (43)
  31. #libdemfightback (43)
  32. government (43)
  33. labour (42)
  34. team (41)
  35. theresa (40)
  36. keep (40)
  37. country (38)
  38. may (38)
  39. need (38)
  40. new (37)
  41. thank (37)
  42. make (36)
  43. tim (36)
  44. say (35)
  45. back (35)
  46. apply (33)
  47. vote (32)
  48. get (32)
  49. hey (32)
  50. hard (32)
  51. opposition (32)
  52. fantastic (31)
  53. must (31)
  54. market (31)
  55. @libdems (29)
  56. last (29)
  57. deal (28)
  58. single (28)
  59. fight (27)
  60. leave (27)
  61. policy (27)
  62. farron (26)
  63. dems (26)
  64. campaign (25)
  65. amazing (25)
  66. british (25)
  67. stand (25)
  68. agree (25)
  69. tell (24)
  70. look (24)
  71. #brexit (24)
  72. conference (23)
  73. citizens (23)
  74. care (23)
  75. it’s (23)
  76. good (23)
  77. see (23)
  78. nick (23)
  79. final (23)
  80. change (22)
  81. love (22)
  82. economy (22)
  83. future (22)
  84. social (22)
  85. result (21)
  86. real (21)
  87. next (21)
  88. 1 (21)
  89. member (21)
  90. #righttostay (20)
  91. world (20)
  92. could (20)
  93. @sarahjolney1 (20)
  94. we’ll (19)
  95. clegg (19)
  96. right (19)
  97. congratulations (19)
  98. many (19)
  99. day (19)
  100. democrats (19)

@TheSNP

The SNP are the most frequent tweeters in our sample (their earliest entry here is from December 2016, less than four months ago! 🔥). There’s a conference and a local election on this year, and they’ve got lots of stuff for you to read.

22 December 2016 to 08 April 2017
n = 1,026, avg RTs = 90, avg favs = 93

  1. #snp17 (319)
  2. scotland (233)
  3. read (126)
  4. #fmqs (119)
  5. fm (118)
  6. people (117)
  7. ns (109)
  8. #scotref (103)
  9. uk (87)
  10. @nicolasturgeon (76)
  11. scotland’s (76)
  12. brexit (68)
  13. tories (66)
  14. tory (66)
  15. choice (64)
  16. government (64)
  17. snp (62)
  18. get (62)
  19. us (62)
  20. future (54)
  21. nhs (51)
  22. scottish (51)
  23. country (49)
  24. kb (49)
  25. new (48)
  26. today (48)
  27. hard (48)
  28. must (47)
  29. js (47)
  30. agree (46)
  31. #brexit (46)
  32. support (45)
  33. want (43)
  34. may (43)
  35. sr (43)
  36. theresa (40)
  37. eu (39)
  38. we’re (39)
  39. services (38)
  40. scotlands (37)
  41. @angusrobertson (37)
  42. watch (36)
  43. here’s (35)
  44. single (35)
  45. market (34)
  46. health (33)
  47. free (32)
  48. plan (32)
  49. facts (30)
  50. sign (30)
  51. ar (30)
  52. funding (30)
  53. pledge (30)
  54. tax (30)
  55. record (30)
  56. make (29)
  57. time (29)
  58. @scotgov (29)
  59. week (29)
  60. #pmqs (28)
  61. independence (28)
  62. minister (28)
  63. best (28)
  64. work (27)
  65. #bbcqt (27)
  66. care (27)
  67. one (27)
  68. need (27)
  69. know (27)
  70. referendum (27)
  71. would (26)
  72. live (26)
  73. action (26)
  74. budget (26)
  75. westminster (26)
  76. change (25)
  77. economy (25)
  78. year (25)
  79. place (25)
  80. first (25)
  81. clear (25)
  82. parliament (25)
  83. day (25)
  84. dm (24)
  85. it’s (24)
  86. education (24)
  87. #scotbudget (23)
  88. local (23)
  89. schools (22)
  90. years (22)
  91. 12 (22)
  92. protect (22)
  93. 50 (21)
  94. right (21)
  95. jobs (21)
  96. #article50 (21)
  97. find (21)
  98. young (21)
  99. let (21)
  100. attainment (20)

@TheGreenParty

Some pretty respectable favouriting and retweeting stats for the Greens. It’s also nice to see a job share in the top 10!

14 May 2016 to 07 April 2017
n = 965, avg RTs = 110, avg favs = 103

  1. @carolinelucas (125)
  2. us (120)
  3. #gpconf (108)
  4. #greenerin (88)
  5. we’re (87)
  6. #euref (77)
  7. join (74)
  8. vote (73)
  9. @jon_bartley (71)
  10. green (65)
  11. today (65)
  12. eu (59)
  13. time (57)
  14. govt (55)
  15. make (54)
  16. need (48)
  17. want (46)
  18. #greenleadership (45)
  19. party (45)
  20. it’s (44)
  21. must (43)
  22. greens (43)
  23. stand (43)
  24. people (40)
  25. get (39)
  26. rt (36)
  27. work (34)
  28. uk (34)
  29. politics (33)
  30. britain (32)
  31. #greens2017 (32)
  32. @natalieben (31)
  33. new (31)
  34. support (31)
  35. we’ll (30)
  36. future (29)
  37. #bbcqt (29)
  38. fight (28)
  39. watch (28)
  40. government (28)
  41. sign (26)
  42. tomorrow (26)
  43. say (26)
  44. movement (26)
  45. help (26)
  46. members (26)
  47. together (25)
  48. better (25)
  49. @mollymep (25)
  50. next (25)
  51. here’s (24)
  52. great (24)
  53. rights (23)
  54. free (23)
  55. live (23)
  56. petition (23)
  57. london (22)
  58. let’s (22)
  59. change (22)
  60. migrants (22)
  61. still (22)
  62. message (22)
  63. day (22)
  64. brexit (21)
  65. ever (21)
  66. take (21)
  67. please (21)
  68. we’ve (20)
  69. #brexit (20)
  70. member (20)
  71. country (19)
  72. right (19)
  73. year (19)
  74. come (19)
  75. you’re (19)
  76. there’s (19)
  77. hope (19)
  78. every (18)
  79. nhs (18)
  80. heard (18)
  81. power (18)
  82. public (18)
  83. everyone (18)
  84. back (18)
  85. know (18)
  86. @amelia_womack (18)
  87. campaign (17)
  88. voice (17)
  89. welcome (17)
  90. looking (17)
  91. one (17)
  92. energy (17)
  93. @greenjennyjones (17)
  94. build (17)
  95. apply (17)
  96. system (17)
  97. freedom (17)
  98. tells (16)
  99. #eu (16)
  100. clear (16)

@UKIP

It’s all me, me, me at UKIP HQ. And lots of talk of tuning in, because although we’re on Twitter we still listen to the news on the wireless and watch TV in black and white.

29 June 2016 to 07 April 2017
n = 1,353, avg RTs = 44, avg favs = 67

  1. ukip (445)
  2. tune (262)
  3. @paulnuttallukip (259)
  4. leader (249)
  5. @nigel_farage (184)
  6. #ukipconf (151)
  7. brexit (146)
  8. says (141)
  9. watch (123)
  10. spokesman (115)
  11. coming (91)
  12. @prwhittle (88)
  13. make (87)
  14. live (83)
  15. sure (83)
  16. eu (80)
  17. deputy (78)
  18. ukip’s (75)
  19. today (63)
  20. @lbc (62)
  21. mep (59)
  22. next (53)
  23. party (52)
  24. today’s (48)
  25. people (48)
  26. #ukipspring (48)
  27. #ukip (45)
  28. new (44)
  29. paul (44)
  30. speaking (42)
  31. show (41)
  32. uk (41)
  33. chairman (40)
  34. @dianejamesmep (40)
  35. @douglascarswell (40)
  36. labour (37)
  37. shortly (36)
  38. must (35)
  39. conference (35)
  40. #ukipshuffle (35)
  41. #bbcqt (35)
  42. @suzanneevans1 (34)
  43. byelection (34)
  44. @davidkurten (33)
  45. immigration (33)
  46. speech (32)
  47. britain (30)
  48. @billukip (30)
  49. vote (29)
  50. around (29)
  51. tonight (29)
  52. want (28)
  53. politics (28)
  54. @gerardbattenmep (28)
  55. european (27)
  56. defence (27)
  57. tomorrow (26)
  58. calls (26)
  59. government (26)
  60. country (25)
  61. @skynews (25)
  62. mp (25)
  63. go (25)
  64. @steven_woolfe (25)
  65. nhs (24)
  66. get (24)
  67. oakden (24)
  68. stokeontrent (24)
  69. debate (24)
  70. voted (23)
  71. @johnbickleyukip (23)
  72. listen (23)
  73. sunday (23)
  74. british (23)
  75. trade (23)
  76. @oflynnmep (23)
  77. read (23)
  78. bbc (23)
  79. @markreckless (22)
  80. news (22)
  81. morning (22)
  82. 10am (22)
  83. leave (21)
  84. @daily_politics (21)
  85. parliament (21)
  86. @bbc5live (21)
  87. #marr (21)
  88. @gmb (20)
  89. candidate (20)
  90. stoke (20)
  91. year (20)
  92. #paulforstoke (20)
  93. @jamesjimcarver (20)
  94. need (20)
  95. #bbcsp (19)
  96. response (19)
  97. political (19)
  98. back (19)
  99. us (19)
  100. talking (18)

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