An image shared on Facebook claims to show a screenshot of a tweet from Nadine Dorries, the U.K.’s Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), urging citizens to use cats and dogs to stay warm in the winter.

Verdict: False

The screengrab is digitally fabricated. A spokesperson told Check Your Fact that the claim was false.

Fact Check:

The U.K. is experiencing a high increase in energy costs, with households expected to see an 80% increase in annual energy bills, caused in part by Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to NPR. The recent surge in prices follow another 54% rise in April, the outlet reported.

The Facebook post claims to show a screenshot of a tweet from Dorries where she advocates for using dogs to keep warm in the winter.

“To keep warm this winter we should turn to man’s best friend, the domesticated dog,” the alleged tweet reads. “As a nation of animal lovers, we are well aware that dogs can provide warmth. Also, in ancient China Shih Tzus were inserted into sleeves to keep people warm. Cats probably work quite well to.”

The tweet is digitally fabricated. Check Your Fact also reviewed Dorries’ Twitter account and other archived pages and did not find any tweets matching the one in the Facebook image. There are no credible news reports suggesting Dorries ever made such a remark at all. (RELATED: Does This Video Show Boris Johnson Giving Journalists Tea After Recovering From COVID-19?)

“This is a fake tweet and was not issued by the Secretary of State or her team,” a DCMS spokesperson confirmed to Check Your Fact. 

This is not the first time a false tweet from Dorries has circulated on social media. Check Your Fact previously debunked a screengrab in April 2022 allegedly showing the secretary complaining about the “loony left.”