A grassroots online campaign backing Tony Abbott before next week’s leadership spill vote has been taken over by critics who are using it to parody the prime minister.
The #ImstickingwithTony hashtag aims to rally support for the prime minister, following weeks of leadership turmoil.
By Saturday afternoon, the hashtag was trending on Twitter. It was quickly hijacked by Abbott’s opponents, who used it to attack his blunders and policy record.
#ImStickingWithTony cos i dont want my right to be a bigot ever to expire
— Adrian Oter (@Daredevil191) February 7, 2015
#ImStickingWithTony because he brought laughter and joy to to faces of even the Russians.
— Peter Irelandisms (@Hippopeteamus) February 7, 2015
#ImStickingWithTony like a pair speedos after a hot day at the beach.
— Glen (@glengyron) February 7, 2015
#ImStickingWithTony because he gives my wife no excuse for not doing the ironing.
— Herbert Vere Evatt (@DocEvatt) February 7, 2015
The hashtag gathered momentum after backbencher Craig Kelly wrote a Facebook post on Wednesday praising Abbott’s achievements.
“Therefore, even if he’d given a knighthood to Camilla – I’m sticking with Tony!!” the post ends.
A number of Abbott supporters then took to social media to back in the embattled prime minister.
It gathered momentum after backbencher Craig Kelly wrote a Facebook post on Wednesday praising Abbott’s achievements.
“Therefore, even if he’d given a knighthood to Camilla – I’m sticking with Tony!!” the post ends.
A number of Abbott supporters have taken to social media to back in the embattled prime minister.
"If you can't rule your party you can't rule the country!" @TonyAbbottMHR must crush the conspirators! @#ImStickingWithTony
— Coalition Man (@Coalition_Man) February 7, 2015
We don't need another Pop Up PM #ImStickingWithTony #NoPopUpPM
— Polletix (@Polletix) February 6, 2015
A post on Abbott’s official Facebook page acknowledging the upcoming motion to vacate all leadership positions, had over 10,000 comments by Saturday afternoon.
“We voted for Tony Abbott, not [sic] one else,” voter George Tanios said. “Be strong Mr Abbott and God bless you.”
Margaret Price wrote: “We voted for you, prime minister! If anything happens to you I won’t be voting LNP again.
“Stay strong! Only the disloyal, weak and conniving for their own ends would carry on like this,” Price adds. “I’m right behind you.”
Grassroots Liberal supporters are urging voters to contact their local MPs to back Abbott.
From now until Tuesday, call or email your MP, ring talkback radio, & make your support for Tony Abbott heard! @LaborFAIL @Coalition_Man
— Kristin Wells (@KristinWells99) February 6, 2015
I encourage all Lib/Nat supporters to call Liberal HQ on Monday! Contact details on the attached pic #IStandWithTony pic.twitter.com/Ox0pzhII23
— Di (@Ama_Di_57) February 6, 2015
Others are using social media to publicly name and shame MPs who have remained silent after news of the spill emerged.
#ImStickingWithTony pic.twitter.com/kJh0dgYnki
— InfidelMeany (@SharonUren) February 7, 2015
The social media storm comes amid reports of an orchestrated email campaign undertaken by Abbott supporters to backbenchers in marginal seats to spook them into voting down a spill motion. The emails reportedly warn Liberal supporters that a leadership spill would make the Coalition no better than the previous Labor government.
Backbencher Warren Entsch, who seconded a private members’ bill to abolish the knights and dames honours system introduced by the PM, dismissed claims of a coordinated campaign to support Abbott.
He told Guardian Australia that he would talk to the prime minister privately and would not comment on the leadership spill motion.
