Secret Tory: Henry Morris unmasks himself as man behind parody account

The antheral down the Secret Tory relationship connected Twitter has unmasked himself arsenic idiosyncratic trainer Henry Morris.

The parody relationship has built up astir 200,000 followers since its motorboat successful 2019, with its anonymous writer publishing a publication past year.

Followers person speculated that the idiosyncratic down the relationship is simply a high-profile comedian oregon a real-life MP.

But Morris is successful information a idiosyncratic trainer and ultra marathon runner from Yorkshire, who present lives successful Wales.

Morris puts connected amateur Shakespeare productions successful Wales each year, is down the Field Maneuvers [sic] rave successful Norfolk and is simply a campaigner to extremity raptor persecution connected grouse moors with Chris Packham's Wild Justice group.

"I inadvertently started parodying Mark Francois astatine the tallness of Brexit erstwhile I was bored betwixt grooming clients successful my gym," Morris told BBC News.

"It took connected a beingness of its ain astir immediately, I retrieve radical successful the gym laughing astir the relationship without knowing it was me, and it was precise bully to person my hunch confirmed that I could marque radical laugh."

The satirical account, which is staunchly anti-Conservative, gained prominence erstwhile Brexit was dominating the headlines anterior to the UK's exit from the EU.

It started beingness named Mark ne Francois pas, a notation to Conservative MP Mark Francois, aboriginal changing its sanction to Michael Govern Ready (alluding to Michael Gove and the oven-ready Brexit deal) earlier yet becoming The Secret Tory.

"Other radical observe they're bully astatine things similar ballet oregon darts. Turns retired I'm precise bully astatine pretending to beryllium a Tory MP," Morris said.

"I person loved the wind-up, but I reckon its clip to fto radical cognize who I truly am. And anyway, I'm definite an AI volition beryllium capable to bash each this successful a fewer weeks anyway."

In 2022, helium released a publication - The Diary of a Secret Tory MP: (Almost!) True Stories from the Heart of British Politics - which was endorsed by the Times columnist Caitlin Moran and the LBC presenter James O'Brien.

However, contempt the usage of the word MP successful the book's rubric and the account's Twitter biography, Morris is not and ne'er has been a subordinate of parliament for immoderate party.

"If radical are feeling cheated I'm not a existent MP, I'd similar to accidental I'm sorry," Morris said. "But I'm not. It's got a batch much to bash with the behaviour of the radical sitting successful Westminster, than my skills arsenic a con artist."

Over time, the code of the Twitter relationship has changed. Morris said helium started "going connected the onslaught alternatively than conscionable playing the jester".

"The occupation with that was, if radical travel for you to beryllium funny, and you're being angry, it doesn't work," helium said. "

"People are everlastingly telling maine they preferred it erstwhile I was doing jokes astir Mark ne-Francois-pas' mock-Tudor carport and breakfasts of Sugar Puffs made with a tin of Monster. I anticipation I've got the equilibrium amended now, but who knows?"