'Stupid woman': Sally Bercow's Twitter account deleted after apparent hacker posts message criticising her

Deletion took place after a series of gaffes from Bercow, including breaching a court order banning the naming of a schoolgirl, and linking Lord McAlpine to a flawed Newsnight film about child abuse

Sally Bercow has left Twitter after a hacker apparently compromised her account, calling her a “stupid woman” and criticising her soft password.

At 2.21am last night her account appeared to have been hacked when a message in broken English appeared, reading “Lou yeah I. md Dilly Bercow! 1000s of followers (funking lunatics). Stupid woman - password softearev”.

Her account has subsequently been deleted, although it is not known if it was removed by the hacker, Twitter, or Mrs Bercow herself.

The hacked message appeared hours after Mrs Bercow tweeted that she had been advised by her lawyers and husband – Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow – not to use the social networking site.

Yesterday a leading lawyer urged Mrs Bercow to leave Twitter after she breached a strict court order banning the naming of a schoolgirl. It is thought she could face a £5,000 fine for doing so.

That gaff came just days after it was revealed that Lord McAlpine is planning to sue Mrs Bercow after she named him on Twitter at a time when there was frenzied online speculation over the identity of an former MP wrongly accused of being a paedophile by BBC’s Newsnight programme.

Last night Mrs Bercow tweeted: “Looking at tweets but (sadly) can’t reply (#lawyerswhippedmyass #asdidMrB). So text/email/DM if you’re a mate. Hope 2 b back soon.xx”

Mrs Bercow named the missing schoolgirl, whose identity is protected by a Section 39 Order under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, at 8.40pm on Sunday evening.

She followed the message up by tweeting “Forgive random question - just discussing with a friend…”

She failed to respond to warnings from journalists that she should withdraw the post, finally removing it several hours later.

Mrs Bercow has already been sent a “letter before action” from Lord McAlpine, who accuses her of defamation over a tweet that linked him to a flawed Newsnight film about child abuse.

“Why is Lord McAlpine trending *innocent face*” she tweeted.

After finding out she was going to receive the letter from Lord McAlpine’s lawyers, Mrs Bercow tweeted “*gulps*”.

She has since tweeted calling the peer’s lawyers “ambulance chasers” and “big bullies”.

Top stories
News in pictures
World news in pictures
UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures
More stories
       
Independent
Travel Shop
Imperial Cities of Morocco
Seven nights half-board from only £799pp Find out more
Historic Sicily
Seven nights half-board from £799pp Find out more
4* all-inclusive Crete
Seven nights from only £399pp Find out more
Independent Dating
and  

By clicking 'Search' you
are agreeing to our
Terms of Use.

Day In a Page

Johnny Marr talks relationships and reunions

He's worked with Modest Mouse, the Pet Shop Boys and Beck, to name a few, and recently released his first solo album. So why, wonders Johnny Marr, do people still hark on about The Smiths?
After the flood: From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands

In pictures: After the flood

From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands
Death becomes her: Meet the very modern mortician who champions 'cool' funerals

Death becomes her: A very modern mortician

Ever considered baking a loved one's remains into a cake or putting their ashes in fireworks? If so, talk to Caitlin Doughty, champion of the alternative death industry.
How long can the 'Keep Calm' trend carry on?

How long can the 'Keep Calm' trend carry on?

At first it seemed clever and cute. Then the 'Keep Calm' motif went mad, spawning endless offshoots.
The man who built Brum: A lament for the demise of John Madin's Brutalist Birmingham

John Madin: The man who built Brum

The architect's buildings were supposed to leave an indelible, futuristic mark on his beloved hometown but they are now being inexorably torn down.
School of chop: Learning the art of butchery at the Ginger Pig

School of chop: Learning the art of butchery

How do you butcher a lamb? Or make Mexican street food in a British kitchen? Christopher Hirst finds out.
James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

The man who's eaten everywhere

Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

Eat Spam and carry on

Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

Facial hair

Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats