Ed Balls has celebrated the 10th anniversary of one of the country’s most famous social media mishaps.
On April 28, 2011, Mr Balls – who was then Labour’s shadow chancellor – accidentally tweeted the words “Ed Balls” as he was attempting to search his own name.
Instead of deleting the tweet when he noticed his error, he instead left it online for all to see – and the occasion has been celebrated on the platform every year since.
Ed Balls
— Ed Balls (@edballs) April 28, 2011
Mr Balls has joined in along the way, retweeting the original tweet, posting variations and even one year baking a cake designed to look like the accidental post.
Good grief.. but how could I say No? RT @YvetteCooperMP We've insisted he bake a cake. How else would you celebrate? pic.twitter.com/tfm7aKTLIs
— Ed Balls (@edballs) April 28, 2016
This year he again posted a picture of a cake – one adorned with a number 10 candle, albeit Photoshopped, and being held by the man himself.
He wrote: “Ed Balls #10LongYears”
Mr Balls’ wife, Labour MP Yvette Cooper, replied: “How can it be TEN YEARS… ?”
#EdBallsDay How can it be TEN YEARS… ? pic.twitter.com/Ys82f3P7a1
— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) April 28, 2021
Others marking the day on Twitter included politicians, journalists and celebrities.
Among them was BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker, who wrote: “Ten years on… it remains one of the great days #EdBallsDay”
Ten years on… it remains one of the great days #EdBallsDay ? https://t.co/IllZZXXMgX
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) April 28, 2021
Mr Balls lost his seat in 2015 and has since developed a TV career, appearing on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Best Home Cook, as well as presenting a series of travel documentaries.
Related: ‘You can’t handle the truth:’ Major Sleaze loses his cool as Starmer cruises at PMQs