Top 140 UK Twitter influencers: One Direction more powerful than David Cameron?

Nov 1, 2013 | UK

Boy band One Direction hold the biggest influence on Twitter in the UK, beating prime minister David Cameron and comedian Stephen Fry, according to new research. View larger image One Direction member Liam Payne claimed the top spot on PeerIndex’s lists, followed by Harry Styles, with the One Direction tween-idols hauling in just less than […]

Boy band One Direction hold the biggest influence on Twitter in the UK, beating prime minister David Cameron and comedian Stephen Fry, according to new research.


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One Direction member Liam Payne claimed the top spot on PeerIndex’s lists, followed by Harry Styles, with the One Direction tween-idols hauling in just less than 50 million followers collectively on the micro-blogging site.
Singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran took the 6th spot followed by Cameron and Piers Morgan (one of the few transatlantic Britons included). Caitlin Moran and Ricky Gervais rounded out the top 10.
However, it should be noted that Cameron did manage to overcome the handicap of a relatively tiny Twitter following. The PM has fewer than 500,000 followers on the site, nine times less than ex-News of the World editor Piers Morgan and roughly the same as author and columnist Moran.
The list’s methodology looked at how the public engaged with each user, counting favourites, retweets and responses, with engagement from other ‘influential’ tweeters weighted as more important than the opinions of the general public.
After David Cameron, the next-most influential political figure was Labour Leader Ed Miliband (ranked at no.29), followed by Labour MP for West Bromwich East Tom Watson (no.32) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne at no.33. Boris Johnson (no.41) and Ed Balls (no.42) took the next highest spots.
The full list is as follows:
(given by Rank, Name, Twitter name, UK Peer Index score ‘π’, followers, job description, category)
• 1 Liam Payne, @real_liam_payne, π score 98, 12.3m, One Direction member, music
• 2 Harry Styles, @Harry_Styles, π score 98, 15.4m, One Direction member, music
• 3 Niall Horan, @NiallOfficial, π score 98, 13.4m, One Direction member, music
• 4 Louis Tomlinson, @Louis_Tomlinson, π score 98, 12.2m, One Direction member, music
• 5 Zayn Malik, @zaynmalik, π score 97, 9.9m, One Direction member, music
• 6 Ed Sheeran, @edsheeran, π score 97, 7.4m, singer-songwriter, music
• 7 David Cameron, @David_Cameron, π score 97, 0.4m, Prime Minister, politics
• 8 Piers Morgan, @PiersMorgan, π score 97, 3.6m, journalist and TV personality, journalism
• 9 Caitlin Moran, @caitlinmoran, π score 96, 0.4m, feminist author and journalist, journalism
• 10 Ricky Gervais, @rickygervais, π score 96, 4.9m, comedian and actor, entertainment
• 11 Stephen Fry, @stephenfry, π score 96, 6.1m, actor, comedian and writer, entertainment
• 12 Simon Cowell, @SimonCowell, π score 96, 7.8m, music executive, music
• 13 Owen Jones, @OwenJones84, π score 96, 0.1m, left¬wing political columnist, journalism
• 14 Alan Sugar, @Lord_Sugar, π score 96, 3.1m, businessman and TV personality, business and entertainment
• 15 Olly Murs, @ollyofficial, π score 96, 4.7m, singer-songwriter, music
• 16 Gary Lineker, @GaryLineker, π score 96, 1.7m, former footballer and host of Match Of the Day, sport
• 17 will.i.am, @IAmWill, π score 96, 9.4m, singer and TV personality, music and entertainment
• 18 Frankie Boyle, @FrankieBoyle, π score 96, 1.4m, comedian, entertainment
• 19 Joseph Barton, @Joey7Barton, π score 96, 2.2m, football player, sport
• 20 Jessie J, @JessieJ, π score 96, 6.5m, singer and TV personality, music and entertainment
• 21 Andy Murray, @andy_murray, π score 96, 2.1m, tennis player, sport
• 22 Thomas Parker, @TomTheWanted, π score 96, 1.0m, The Wanted member, music
• 23 Rio Ferdinand, @rioferdy5, π score 96, 4.6m, football player, sport
• 24 Josh Devine, @JoshDevineDrums, π score 96, 2.2m, drummer with One Direction, music
• 25 Gaz Beadle, @GazGShore, π score 96, 1.4m, reality TV star on Geordy Shore, celebrity
• 26 Rylan Ross Clark, @Rylan, π score 96, 0.9m, musician and celebrity, music
• 27 Eleanor Calder, @EleanorJCalder, π score 96, 2.8m, Louis Tomlinson’s girlfriend, celebrity
• 28 Nathan Sykes, @NathanTheWanted, π score 96, 1.4m, The Wanted member, music
• 29 Ed Miliband, @Ed_Miliband, π score 95, 0.2Mm, Labour leader, politics
• 30 Caspar Lee, @Caspar_Lee, π score 95, 0.7m, web¬blogger, blogging
• 31 Sunny Hundal, @sunny_hundal, π score 95, 0.04m, founder of ‘Liberal Conspiracy’ blog, journalism
• 32 Tom Watson, @tom_watson, π score 95, 0.1m, Labour MP for West Bromwich East, politics
• 33 George Osborne, @George_Osborne, π score 95, 0.05m, Chancellor of the Exchequer, politics
• 34 Marius Listhrop, @Mazzi_Maz, π score 95, 0.4m, web-blogger, blogging
• 35 Michael Owen, @themichaelowen, π score 95, 2.2m, football player, sport
• 36 Nick Grimshaw, @grimmers, π score 95, 1.3m, Radio 1 DJ, entertainment
• 37 Max George, @MaxtheWanted, π score 95, 1.2m, The Wanted member, music
• 38 Jeremy Clarkson, @JeremyClarkson, π score 95, 2.2m, TV presenter and journalist, journalism and entertainment
• 39 Stan Collymore, @StanCollymore, π score 95, 0.4m, football player, sport
• 40 Rita Ora, @RitaOra, π score 95, 3.3m, singer, music
• 41 Boris Johnson, @MayorofLondon, π score 95, 0.6m, Mayor of London, politics
• 42 Ed Balls, @edballsmp, π score 95, 0.1m, Labour MP and Shadow Chancellor, politics
• 43 Alfie Deyes, @PointlessBlog, π score 95, 0.5m, web-blogger, blogging
• 44 Dan Howell, @danisnotonfire, π score 95, 0.7m, web-blogger, blogging
• 45 Richard Dawkins, @RichardDawkins, π score 95, 0.7m, scientist and writer, science
• 46 David Walliams, @DavidWalliams, π score 95, 1.2m, comedian and writer, entertainment
• 47 Example, @Example, π score 95, 1.8m, singer, music
• 48 Professor Green, @ProfessorGreen, π score 95, 1.8m, rapper, music
• 49 Jahmene Douglas, @JahmeneDouglas, π score 95, 0.6m, singer, music
• 50 Theo Paphitis, @TheoPaphitis, π score 95, 0.4m, businessman and TV personality, entertainment and business
• 51 Wayne Rooney, @WayneRooney, π score 95, 6.9m, football player, sport
• 52 Marvin Humes, @MarvinHumes, π score 95, 0.1m, singer, actor, TV presenter and DJ, entertainment and music
• 53 Lauren Laverne, @LaurenLaverne, π score 95, 0.2m, radio DJ, TV presenter and writer, entertainment and jounrnalism
• 54 Louise Mensch, @LouiseMensch , π score 95, 0.08m, former Conservative MP and writer, politics and entertainment
• 55 Tom Fletcher, @tommcfly, π score 95, 1.1m, singer-songwriter and writer, music
• 56 James Arthur, @JamesArthur23, π score 95, 1.9m, singer, music
• 57 Helen Lewis, @HelenLewis, π score 95, 0.03m, deputy editor of New Statesman, journalism
• 58 Marcus Chown, @marcuschown, π score 95, 0.01m, science writer and journalist, science
• 59 Lou Teasdale, @louteasdale, π score 94, 1.0m, hair stylist for One Direction, fashion and music
• 60 Ellie Goulding, @elliegoulding, π score 94, 1.6m, singer, music
• 61 Ben Goldacre, @bengoldacre, π score 94, 0.3m, science writer and journalist, science
• 62 Jordan O’Keefe, @jordyokeefe, π score 94, 0.1m, singer, music
• 63 Jay McGuiness, @JaytheWanted, π score 94, 0.8m, The Wanted member, music
• 64 Aston Merrygold, @astonmerrygold, π score 94, 0.1m, singer formerly with JLS, music
• 65 Anne Twist, @MrsAnneTwist, π score 94, 1.3m, Harry Styles’ mother, celebrity
• 66 John Prescott, @johnprescott, π score 94, 0.2m, former Labour deputy PM, politics
• 67 Graham Linehan, @Glinner, π score 94, 0.3m, comedy writer, entertainment
• 68 Phillip Schofield, @Schofe, π score 94, 2.5m, TV presenter, entertainment
• 69 Simon Ricketts, @SimonNRicketts, π score 94, 0.02m, Guardian journalist and screenwriter, journalism
• 70 Russell Brand, @RustyRockets, π score 94, 6.8m, comedian and actor, entertainment
• 71 Mehdi Hasan, @mehdirhasan, π score 94, 0.08m, editor of Huffington Post UK, journalist
• 72 Jon Snow, @jonsnowC4, π score 94, 0.3m, host of Channel 4 News, journalism
• 73 Andrew Neil, @AFNeil, π score 94, 0.1m, TV presenter, journalism
• 74 Richard Branson, @RichardBranson, π score 94, 3.4m, businessman, business
• 75 Dr Christian Jessen, @DoctorChristian, π score 94, 0.3m, doctor and TV presenter, entertainment
• 76 Laurie Penny, @PennyRed, π score 94, 0.08m, left¬wing and feminist writer, journalism
• 77 Jamie Adenuga (Jme), @JmeBBK, π score 94, 0.2m, singer, music
• 78 Jack Harries, @JacksGap, π score 94, 1.3m, actor and web¬blogger, entertainment and blogging
• 79 Simon Pegg, @SimonPegg, π score 94, 3.4m, comedian, actor and writer, entertainment
• 80 Finn Harries, @FinnHarries, π score 94, 1.2m, web¬blogger, blogging
• 81 Alex Andreou, @sturdyAlex, π score 94, 0.01m, New Statesman and Guardian writer, journalism
• 82 Cara Delevingne, @Caradelevingne, π score 94, 1.0m, model, fashion
• 83 Luis Suarez, @luis16suarez, π score 94, 2m, football player, sport
• 84 Andy Burnham, @andyburnhammp, π score 94, 0.05m, Labour MP and Shadow Health Minister, politics
• 85 George Galloway, @georgegalloway, π score 94, 0.2m, Respect MP, politics
• 86 Oritsé Williams, @Oritse, π score 94, 0.08m, singer formerly of JLS, music
• 87 Rochelle Humes, @RochelletheSats , π score 94, 0.8m, The Saturdays member, music
• 88 Jack Mulligan, @J4CKMULL, π score 94, 0.3m, web-blogger, blogging
• 89 David Schneider, @davidschneider, π score 94, 0.2m, actor and comedian, entertainment
• 90 Andy Brown, @LawsonAndy, π score 94, 0.2m, singer for Lawson Music
• 91 Ollie Marland, @OllieMarland, π score 94, 0.06m, singer-songwriter, music
• 92 Alan Carr, @AlanCarr, π score 94, 3.6m, comedian and TV host, entertainment
• 93 Marcus Butler, @MarcusButlerTv, π score 94, 0.6m, web-blogger, blogging
• 94 Cheryl Cole, @CherylCole, π score 94, 4m, singer, music
• 95 Ben Winston, @benwinston, π score 94, 0.1m, director of One Direction film ‘A Year in the Making’, entertainment
• 96 Zoella @ZozeeBo, π score 94, 0.5m, web¬blogger, blogging
• 97 Danny Baker, @ProdNose, π score 94, 0.2m, comedian and radio DJ, entertainment
• 98 Guido Fawkes, @GuidoFawkes, π score 94, 0.1m, political blogger, politics and journalism
• 99 Charlotte Crosby, @CharlotteGShore, π score 94, 1.4m, reality star in Geordie Shore, celebrity
• 100 Al Murray, @AJHMurray, π score 94, 0.3m, comedian, entertainment
• 101 Gary Neville, @GNev2, π score 94, 1.3m, former footballer and pundit, sport
• 102 Nigel Farage, @Nigel_Farage, π score 94, 0.08m, leader of UKIP, politics
• 103 Neil Gaiman @NeilHimself, π score 94, 1.8m, writer, entertainment
• 104 Cher Lloyd, @CherLloyd, π score 94, 5m, singer, music
• 105 Stella Creasy, @StellaCreasy, π score 94, 0.03m, Labour MP for Walthamstow, politics
• 106 Jake Humphrey, @MrJakeHumphrey, π score 94, 0.6m, TV presenter, entertainment
• 107 Jack Whitehall, @JackWhitehall, π score 94, 1.7m, comedian, entertainment
• 108 Andy Samuels, @AndySamuels31, π score 93, 0.7m, friend of One Direction’s Liam Payne, celebrity
• 109 Siva Kaneswaran, @SivaTheWanted, π score 93, 0.9m, The Wanted member, music
• 110 Sarah Millican, @SarahMillican75, π score 93, 0.9m, comedian, entertainment
• 111 Chris Evans, @achrisevans, π score 93, 1.3m, radio DJ and TV presenter, entertainment
• 112 Holly Willoughby, @hollywills, π score 93, 3.8m, TV presenter, entertainment
• 113 Calvin Harris, @CalvinHarris, π score 93, 2.9m, DJ, singer-songwriter, music
• 114 Tom Daley, @TomDaley1994, π score 93, 2.4m, Olympic diver and TV personality, sport and entertainment
• 115 Ian Abrahams, @BroadcastMoose, π score 93, 0.1m, radio sports commentator, sport and journalism
• 116 Please Michael, @yankeeniall, π score 93, 0.05m, BAFTA-winning animator, entertainment
• 117 Ella Henderson, @Ella__Henderson, π score 93, 0.6m, singer, music
• 118 Jodie Marsh, @JodieMarsh, π score 93, 0.5m, glamour model and bodybuilder, celebrity
• 119 James McVey, @TheVampsJames, π score 93, 0.1m, guitarist for The Vamps, music
• 120 Brian Limond, @DaftLimmy, π score 93, 0.1m, comedian and web¬blogger, entertainment and blogging
• 121 Charlie Brooker, @charltonbrooker, π score 93, 0.8m, comedian, journalist and writer, entertainment and journalism
• 122 Alastair Campbell, @campbellclaret, π score 93, 0.2m, former director of communications for Tony Blair and journalist, politics
• 123 Brian Cox, @ProfBrianCox, π score 93, 1.2m, scientist and TV personality, science
• 124 Peter Andre, @MrPeterAndre, π score 93, 2.9m, singer, music
• 125 Emeli Sandé, @emelisande, π score 93, 1.1m, singer, music
• 126 Frankie Cocozza, @FrankieCocozza, π score 93, 1.1m, singer, music
• 127 Matty Selley, @matty_selley, π score 93, 0.3m, web-blogger, blogging
• 128 Moose Allain, @MooseAllain, π score 93, 0.03m, artist and illustrator, entertainment and journalism
• 129 Jake Bugg, @JakeBugg, π score 93, 0.3m, singer, music
• 130 Patrick Strudwick, @PatrickStrud, π score 93, 0.01m, journalist, columnist, broadcaster and activist, entertainment and journalism
• 131 Jonathan Ross, @wossy, π score 93, 3.3m, TV host and former drummer with ThrimbleWeed, entertainment
• 132 Robin Ince, @robinince, π score 93, 0.09m, stand¬up comedian, actor and writer, entertainment and journalism
• 133 Dynamo, @Dynamomagician, π score 93, 1.8m, magician, entertainment
• 134 John Rentoul, @JohnRentoul, π score 93, 0.03m, columnist, entertainment and journalism
• 135 Paul Lewis, @paullewismoney, π score 93, 0.06m, financial journalist, broadcaster and public speaker, entertainment and journalism
• 136 Kirk Norcross, @kirk_official, π score 93, 1.1m, reality star of The Only Way is Essex, celebrity
• 137 Jamie Oliver, @jamieoliver, π score 93, 3.4m, cook, entertainment and TV
• 138 Ryan Fletcher, @LawsonRyan, π score 93, 0.1m, musician, music
• 139 Chris Addison, @mrchrisaddison, π score 93, 0.3m, comedian, entertainment
• 140 Diane Abbott MP, @HackneyAbbott, π score 93, 0.06m, Labour MP for Hackney North, politics
View the full list here

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