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Emily Thornberry resigns from shadow cabinet following Twitter controversy

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Emily Thornberry has resigned from the shadow cabinet following an angry public reaction to a "snobbish" photo she posted to Twitter.
 
While on the campaign trail, the Labour MP tweeted a picture of a house with several England flags and a white van parked in the driveway with the caption "Image from #Rochester".
 
The tweet has since been ridiculed for its apparent patronising tone, while the negative coverage will be compounded by tomorrow’s Sun front page which reads “Only Here For The Sneers”.
 
In a statement released by the Labour party, Thornberry said she was stepping down as she did not want to harm the party’s chances at next year’s general election.
 
She said:
 
Earlier today I sent a tweet which has caused offence to some people.
 
That was never my intention and I have apologised.
 
However I will not let anything distract from Labour’s chance to win the coming general election.
 
I have therefore tonight told Ed Miliband I will resign from the shadow cabinet.
 
Following the backlash on social media, Thornberry soon apologised, tweeting: “I apologise for any offence caused by the 3 flag picture. People should fly the England flag with pride!”. Yet it appears the damage had already been done.