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The comedic individual behind the parody social media account of Guernsey's Chief Minister has hung up their keyboard and quit the site, with their true identity still a mystery.
The anonymous satirical account under the pseudonym of "Chief Minister Lyndon Rott" – a play on real Chief Minister Lyndon Trott – used the @tothevale handle on X (formerly Twitter).
It was first used by actual politician and Vale resident, Deputy Neil Inder.
He had claimed the user name long before his election to the States in 2016, but he left the social media platform in 2022.
Very soon after he closed his account, Deputy Inder's former handle was appropriated by 'Deputy Neil Rinder' a parody of Deputy Inder himself, using a profile picture of television personality Judge Rob Rinder.
Pictured: Deputy Inder's former handle was appropriated by parody account 'Deputy Neil Rinder'.
As Deputy Neil Rinder, the @tothevale account quickly gained followers willing to laugh along at its gentle teasing of the island's politicians.
Deputies Inder and Trott were among those on the comedy hit list, with frequent references to their political work and personalities.
The account also poked fun at others, and would comment on States meetings and use cultural events to create humorous scenarios.
Pictured: As Deputy Neil Rinder, the @tothevale account used events like the Island Games as a reason for funny posts.
In December 2023, the anonymous person behind the account gave themselves a promotion when Deputy Lyndon Trott was elected as the President of the Committee for Policy and Resources.
Whoever was behind the politically conscious profile renamed it as 'Chief Minister Lyndon Rott' and continued to make the #chog chortle.
'Lyndon Rott' – self-describing as "Chief Minister of Guernsey, Genius, Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist, Parody" – also retained their anonymity throughout and took on the new profile persona with gusto.
Pictured: The anonymous person behind the account gave themselves a promotion when Deputy Lyndon Trott was elected as the President of the Committee for Policy and Resources.
Continuing to post under the pseudonym Rott, with a smiling picture of Deputy Trott himself, the @tothevale account continued poking fun at Deputy Trott as frequently and pointedly as it had in the past.
Despite requests over the past couple of years, the person behind the account has never confirmed who they are.
Remaining true to their comedy profile – and perhaps disclosing themselves as a patriotic island resident at heart – the account often poked fun at Jersey, and in particular its new Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham.
Pictured: The account poked fun at the fact that both Channel Islands have Chief Ministers named Lyndon.
The fun has come to an abrupt end though, with the announcement this week that the @tothevale account handle is being rested and that Chief Minister Lyndon Rott is no more.
There was time for one final joke thought as the mystery Tweeter signed off for the final time.
On February 6 2024, the account stated that "Neil Rinder and Lyndon Rott announce X (Twitter) retirement.
"We have shared a wonderful year as @tothevale but it’s time to move on and start causing problems elsewhere.
"I leave with great pride that my true identity remains a glorious secret. Mwahahahahaha. Lots of Love, Gavin."
Deputy Gavin St Pier was among those responding, incredulous that the account was closing.
Alderney States Member Steve Roberts posted: "You were a revelation! They seek him here, they seek him there, who is the political pirate, that was everywhere."
Many other people urged the mystery comedian to stay online.
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