#pinkbus: five best tweets about Labour's bus for women
Twitter brands Labour campaign 'patronising', but Harriet Harman insists bus is magenta not pink

Labour's decision to use a pink bus to launch a campaign aimed at female voters has prompted ridicule on Twitter.
The 16-seater minibus will tour the UK ahead of May's election targeting women who did not vote in 2010 as part of a "woman-to-woman" initiative. But Twitter users have labelled it "patronising" and more suited to a "Barbie doll" or "hen night" than the female half of the electorate.
Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman, who is leading the campaign, claims the bus is more "magenta" than pink, explaining that red "looked the same as everything else" and darker red "looked too much like a Pret delivery van".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Here is what Twitter had to say:
OMG! Have you seen @UKLabour's latest #GeneralElection poster for women? #pinkbus pic.twitter.com/L6abQcXngU — AngryBritain.com (@AngryBritain) February 11, 2015
Celebrity endorsement for Ed Miliband:I've never voted Labour before, but now they've got a #pinkbus... pic.twitter.com/02aP0F1Fxz — Peter Thompson (@TheRedRag) February 11, 2015
Following #Labour's brilliant #pinkbus idea, here's their idea to appeal to the 'ethnic vote' pic.twitter.com/iEPX9qK2Df — Bob Smith (@Schmiffy12) February 11, 2015
Labour’s campaign, in one deft picture by @carlamillar1 http://t.co/lwpblNZU1v pic.twitter.com/ZbqPZ9202l — Isabel Hardman (@IsabelHardman) February 10, 2015
The Labour #pinkbus has been done up using MPs expenses. All in good taste. pic.twitter.com/aQNSLjzQeP — LT (@RealTempleton) February 11, 2015
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - February 22, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - bricking it, I can buy myself flowers, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 exclusive cartoons about Trump and Putin negotiating peace
Cartoons Artists take on alternative timelines, missing participants, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The AI arms race
Talking Point The fixation on AI-powered economic growth risks drowning out concerns around the technology which have yet to be resolved
By The Week UK Published
-
Left on read: Labour's WhatsApp dilemma
Talking Point Andrew Gwynne has been sacked as health minister over messages posted in a Labour WhatsApp group
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Keir Starmer have to choose between the EU and the US?
Today's Big Question Starmer's 'reset' with the EU will focus on 'defence for trade' but an 'EU-hating' president in the White House could cause the PM trouble
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
How could AI-powered government change the UK?
Today's Big Question Keir Starmer unveils new action plan to make Britain 'world leader' in artificial intelligence
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
How should Westminster handle Elon Musk?
Today's Big Question Musk's about-face on Nigel Farage demonstrates that he is a 'precarious' ally, but his influence on the Trump White House makes fending off his attacks a delicate business
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
New Year's Honours: why the controversy?
Today's Big Question London Mayor Sadiq Khan and England men's football manager Gareth Southgate have both received a knighthood despite debatable records
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Labour's plan for change: is Keir Starmer pulling a Rishi Sunak?
Today's Big Question New 'Plan for Change' calls to mind former PM's much maligned 'five priorities'
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published