Philip Pullman faced backlash for tweets about hanging Boris (Picture: Rex/PA)

Sir Philip Pullman has apologised for a tweet which said he thinks of a rope and lamp-post when he hears Boris Johnson’s name.

The author denied advocating the hanging of Boris and said he didn’t wish anyone to kill the Prime Minister.

The tweet, which has since been deleted, was met with backlash from fans of the novelist, some of whom reported it to Met Police.

The author said he was angered by the PMs decision to suspend parliament and made an error of judgement in how he expressed it.


He told his 126,000 followers: ‘I’ve deleted a tweet which apparently upset a lot of people. I don’t advocate hanging Boris Johnson. I think that would be a very bad idea.

The Northern Lights author said he made an error of judgement (Picture: Rex Features)

‘Recent events have aroused my anger to the point where I temporarily lost my judgement. In the heat of the moment I made a tactical error.’



Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament on September 9 has triggered nationwide protests and a furious political row.

Earlier today Pullman, who wrote the fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials, tweeted: ‘When I hear the name ‘Boris Johnson’, for some reason the words ‘rope’ and ‘nearest lamp-post’ come to mind as well’.

He initially didn’t remove the comments and wrote in a follow-up tweet: ‘For goodness’ sake. Of course I wasn’t advocating hanging the b******.’

When he later deleted the remark, he said he was not sorry for being angry, but only for how he expressed his anger.

Freedom of speech, like freedom of assembly, is precious. So is life. Just to make it perfectly clear: I wouldn't kill the prime minister, and I don't want anyone else to. But I don't apologise for the anger I feel; only for its intemperate expression. — Philip Pullman (@PhilipPullman) August 29, 2019

The Northern Lights author said: ‘Johnson’s attempt to silence Parliament is a low point in our nation’s political history. It was not my aim to distract from the genuine and legitimate outrage of many people at this, and I’m sorry it happened.

‘Freedom of speech, like freedom of assembly, is precious. So is life. Just to make it perfectly clear: I wouldn’t kill the prime minister, and I don’t want anyone else to. But I don’t apologise for the anger I feel; only for its intemperate expression.’

His controversial tweet spree comes after a post last night calling to get rid of the ‘dictator PM’.

Boris Johnson has been criticised for suspending parliament before the Brexit deadline (Picture: AP)

He said: ‘The ‘prime minister’ has finally come out as a dictator. I’ve had enough of being outraged. We must get rid of him and his loathsome gang as soon and as finally as possible.’

Responding to criticism, Boris Johnson has insisted his decision to prorogue parliament has nothing to do with Brexit, claiming he has a ‘new government’ with an ‘exciting agenda’ that requires new legislation.

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