Labour MP Stella Creasy faced ridicule after mistaking one of London's abundant ring-necked parakeets for a lost pet parrot. The incident occurred when Creasy, the Member of Parliament for Walthamstow, posted a video on Instagram with a caption asking, "Have you lost a parrot in Walthamstow? Please share!" She commented that the bird she observed in Lloyd Park, north London, "was too big to be a parakeet."
Around 30,000 to 50,000 ring-necked parakeets inhabit London and its surrounding areas, with established colonies dating back to the 1970s. These feral birds are common sights in many of London's parks. Despite the prevalence of these birds, Creasy appeared unaware of their local status.
In the video, accompanied by the Nelly Furtado song "I'm Like A Bird," Creasy expressed concern for the bird's owners, stating, "If you have lost a parrot, not a parakeet, there is a parrot on the loose in Lloyd Park." She added, "I'll try and post some pictures up of it, but if you've lost an actual parrot - because it's too big to be a parakeet - then it's in Lloyd Park right now!"
Creasy's followers quickly pointed out her error. Many shared images of common species and posted humorous "missing pet" appeals. One user commented, "That's a parakeet babe! They live here!!" Another user humorously posted a picture of a deer, describing it as a "lost cat with a branch stuck on its head."
Creasy, 49, has served as the MP for Walthamstow since 2010. This is not the first time the MP has made a public statement that drew attention. In February, she controversially claimed that the fictional bear Paddington would be denied UK citizenship under stricter Home Office immigration rules. She invoked the character while discussing government changes to immigration regulations, suggesting that such processes could "deny" individuals seeking sanctuary and a new life in the UK, akin to Paddington's fictional arrival.