Former Conservative MP Louise Mensch made a public gaffe earlier today after appearing to mistake Leonard Cohen‘s nationality when paying tribute to the late singer-songwriter.

News of Cohen’s death was confirmed earlier today. He was 82. Read tributes to Cohen here.

Honouring the music icon earlier today, Mensch wrote on Twitter: “Leonard Cohen’s death reminds us that America’s enduring greatness is as multifaceted as a diamond. Russia has nothing. Russia is joyless.”

It's not often @LouiseMensch is right, but she's wrong again.

As everyone knows, Cohen was Canadian. pic.twitter.com/bXnGi4vI6g — Jamie McGeever (@ReutersJamie) November 11, 2016


It was soon pointed out that Cohen is in fact Canadian, not American.

Louise Mensch is tweeting about how Leonard Cohen's death is a reminder of America's greatness. Are you going to tell her or shall I? — Benjamin Myers (@BenMyers1) November 11, 2016

Of the things Louise Mensch would go ? over I didn't think it would be relentless piss-taking over saying Leonard Cohen was American. Bless. — Gareth Ware (@musicismyradar) November 11, 2016

Geographically speaking of course, Leonard Cohen *was* American, but that's no reason not to laugh at Louise Mensch. — GlennA (@GlennAirey) November 11, 2016

Louise Mensch told us Russia had no Art, Leonard Cohen was an American & then protected her tweets to stop any more of them escaping. :0) — Felicity Lowde ? (@flutterbyfjl) November 11, 2016


Having deleted her original tweet, Mensch later claimed that she hadn’t been suggesting that Cohen was American (“I didn’t know either way”) but was instead “commenting on the glory of his music in our free society”.

She went on to further her attack on Russia, writing: “There are no Leonard Cohens in Russia, they have no rock n’ roll, no fun, no ‘Hallelujah’, & they are poor in everything, including spirit”. See her tweets in full below.

https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch/status/796921466809892864

https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch/status/796921723778174980

https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch/status/796914444756520960

https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch/status/796922228738785280

https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch/status/796922481328160768

Mensch was Tory MP for Corby from 2010 to 2012. Before becoming a MP, Mensch (previously Louise Bagshawe) worked in the music industry as a PR and in marketing. She is currently married to Metallica and Muse’s manager Peter Mensch.

Earlier this year, Mensch claimed that she used to date Noel Gallagher.