“WonGov” comes under fire from online satirists

Friday 08 March 2019

Online jokesters have seized the opportunity of the Government’s rebranded identity by snapping up their old ‘States of Jersey’ Twitter profile for their own parodic purposes.

Posting caricatures of States Members and other tweets parodying States’ decisions and initiatives, the new, satirical Twitter feed has accumulated nearly 250 followers in a matter of days.

The profile has emerged after the official handle @StatesOfJersey was vacated following the announcement of Jersey’s governmental administrative departments rebrand as the ‘Government of Jersey’.

Pictured: The satirical Twitter page posts caricatures of States Members (Twitter/@StatesOfJersey).

The profile openly mocks Chief Executive Charlie Parker’s 'OneGov' overhaul designed to streamline government departments’ efficiency, as well as posting unflattering caricatures of States Members including the Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondré and Treasury Minister Deputy Susie Pinel.

Some politicians have even interacted with the page, with Deputy Kevin Pamplin engaging in short 'gif' war with the page.

In response to a post about him, he replied with an animated video featuring an American comedian doing the 'I'm watching you' pose, to which the page then replied, "No, Deputy Pamplin!" accompanied by a similar video featuring an actor doing the same action.

No, Deputy Pamplin! #WonGovLove pic.twitter.com/BO2v8mluYy

— ᴺᵒᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? (@StatesOfJersey) March 6, 2019

It appears that there is an appetite for this type of satire at the government’s expense, given that within just over 48 hours, the profile has accumulated over 200 followers – including Twitter accounts run by the States Assembly, Reform Jersey and the Jersey Chamber of Commerce.

When approached by Express for comment the anonymous user(s) behind the account responded: "We at WonGov -Department Of Social Media Affairs will issue a statement in due course, through the Press Office and Cc’ed to the JEP.

"We would appreciate it if you could be patient whilst we find the press officer responsible for whichever department we’ve restructured Social Media Affairs under this week. Thank you."

**Press Statement**
We at WonGov wish to address rumours that the CM J. Le Fondré referred to @GovJersey CEO Mr C. Parker as ‘Oh Great Dark Lord’, yesterday at a meeting. This is ‘fake news’!
We can however confirm that he did call him ‘Sweetheart’.
PP. Comms. Unit. - A. Non. https://t.co/xCtNM4AN3t

— ᴺᵒᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? (@StatesOfJersey) March 7, 2019

It is unclear at this stage who is running the page - some have speculated that it may even be a disgruntled government employee - but it was born at roughly the same time as a number of other parody Twitter pages, including 'Yes, Chief Minister' (under the Twitter handle @JohnLeFondre) and 'Bridgeital Jersey'.

The latter appears to be a joke amalgamating Digital Jersey and the concept of building a bridge to France, which was regained traction after being resurrected by local business personality Kevin Keen in a column for Express last September.

This comes after Mr Parker endured mockery through crockery when a Reader’s Digest style order form for a commemorative ‘Team Jersey’ plate went viral.

WonGov are pleased to announce we have just secured a £9.5m Bugatti, an excellent use of resources & part of our #YesChiefMinister Island speed lowering initiative. This vehicle will be the CM’s official & private vehicle.
PP. Comms. Supremo Mr. SH#TwentyIsPlenty #HauteGovture pic.twitter.com/qsJCOqgPOS

— ᴺᵒᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? (@StatesOfJersey) March 7, 2019

It isn’t the first time that Jersey’s authorities have come under fire from online satirists including Facebook page ‘Not the Jersey Police’ which has over 6,000 likes on the social media platform. 

This profile comes with the following disclaimer: “This is a satirical page. Views expressed here are for the sake of comedy only and are not necessarily shared with the author of the page. If views expressed on this page offend you feel free to drop us a Facebook message and we may take it down.”

One of the governmental decisions which has become the butt of many jokes online is the recent move to reduce speeds to 20mph in the St. Helier ring road.

Effective midnight on 8th March 2019! An ALL Island speed limit of 20mph will come into force on all clockwise roads. Current speed limits will remain in force on all anti-clockwise roads. #WonGovTwoWays #ReduceYourEnjoyment
PP. Comms. Unit. Roger N’out
Cc. @Honorary_Police pic.twitter.com/S1vA2laEuG

— ᴺᵒᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? (@StatesOfJersey) March 6, 2019

On the new ‘Not the States of Jersey’ Twitter page, a post reads: “Effective midnight on 8th March 2019! An ALL Island speed limit of 20mph will come into force on all clockwise roads. Current speed limits will remain in force on all anti-clockwise roads." 

Another parody of this decision has been posted on video-sharing platform YouTube where one user called ‘Jersey Bean’ has altered the subtitles of 2004 blockbuster ‘Downfall’ set in Nazi Germany to show Adolph Hitler intensely discussing the speed limit reduction with his closest advisors. 

The video, entitled ‘Hitler reacts to new 20mph limit (Downfall parody)’ was published on 1 March and has already had almost 2,500 views.

Video: The move to reduce speeds on St. Helier's ring roads to 20mph has become the subject of many parodies online (YouTube/Jersey Bean).

Meanwhile, the Obtuse Goose, which was launched in 2017 by ex-Victoria College student Connor Hughes, continues to poke fun at islanders' habits.

Most recently it published a piece highlighting the three New Year's resolutions Jersey people had likely already broken, and has also published an extensive series on "avoiding people you know" on King Street, in gyms and on the Jersey to London Gatwick flight.

This latest series of spoofs comes just as the Government has released its '2019 Government Communications Strategy and Plan' for the new team of nearly 30 led by former Labour adviser Stephen Hardwick, who was brought in as part of CEO Charlie Parker's 'Transition Team' on a top tier salary.

Said to be "endorsed by the Council of Ministers", the strategy details how the newly-formed group aim to "influenc[e] attitudes and behaviours to benefit the individual and the wider public" and "enhanc[e] the reputation of the government at home and of Jersey abroad".