Advertisement
Politics

‘I thought it was a work event’: Memes mock Boris Johnson’s PMQs performance

Boris Johnson claimed ‘I thought it was a work event’ when confronted about the lockdown party at Downing Street. Twitter was having none of it.

Nothing says abiding stringent social-distancing rules like a BYOB garden party right? Apparently a boozy gathering of 40 people is exactly what following Covid restrictions looks like — at least, that is, according to the prime minister. Especially if you thought it was a work event.

Despite calls by opposition MPs and backbenchers alike, Johnson took until he faced Parliament this week to apologise for this breach of coronavirus guidelines during Prime Minister’s Questions. This followed a leaked email encouraging No.10 staff to “make the most of the lovely weather”.

In today’s episode of ‘if I don’t laugh at the government I’ll cry’, people have taken to Twitter to mock Boris Johnson’s so-called apology for a Downing Street garden party that took place in May 2020, while the rest of the country was banned from gathering outdoors with more than one other person.

With Twitter users doing what they do best, here are some of the funniest memes to come out of today’s PMQs.

Much of the Twitter commentary featured images of traditional British chaos, with nightlife taken too far as police officers take charge.

Any film buffs out there? Twitter also took to video to convey what they imagined a Downing Street party to look like. Just imagine Boris Johnson and Michael Gove are the topless men being carried on their advisers’ shoulders. Although, saying that, maybe spare yourself that particular mental image.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Likewise, coverage of fans during the 2021 Euros reappeared through people’s feeds, including an iconic scene of celebrations during the football and drinks thrown in the air.

Perhaps most horrifying of all, this video of the PM ‘dancing’ (if we can call it that?) did the rounds on Twitter. Much like a car crash, disturbing thought it may be, you can’t quite bring yourself to look away.

Twitter’s Parody Boris Johnson also worked its magic with a simple but affective wink-wink nudge-nudge number.

Plenty of gifs made the cut, of course, with this one depicting a fairly rambunctious house party.

And Leonardo DiCaprio’s Wolf of Wall Street character making shapes alongside his own colleagues.

Scenes of garden-based frivolities or outright chaos from the world of fine art also made an appearance.

You can’t have a viral Twitter trend without Ant and Dec making an appearance and here they are presumably ‘pranking’ the general public by ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Out of Me Ear’ing the PM. Too real.

Even comedian Rob Beckett tweeted this gem of him looking a little rough around the edges at the Euros in contribution to all the fun and games.

Finally, this Twitter user chose to capture the supposed aftermath of Downing Street’s party, with a photo-shopped Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock looking a little worse for wear.

Advertisement

Learn more about our impact

When most people think about the Big Issue, they think of vendors selling the Big Issue magazines on the streets – and we are immensely proud of this. In 2022 alone, we worked with 10% more vendors and these vendors earned £3.76 million in collective income. There is much more to the work we do at the Big Issue Group, our mission is to create innovative solutions through enterprise to unlock opportunity for the 14million people in the UK living in poverty.

Recommended for you

Read All
Sadiq Khan: 'We've only got limited time to make a difference'
Exclusive interview

Sadiq Khan: 'We've only got limited time to make a difference'

Sadiq Khan rules out ever returning to Parliament
Sadiq Khan

Sadiq Khan rules out ever returning to Parliament

Here’s what the UK can learn from Australia, Sweden, and the US about getting voters to the polls
Politics

Here’s what the UK can learn from Australia, Sweden, and the US about getting voters to the polls

New voter ID rules are blocking local elections voters from casting their ballot
Local elections

New voter ID rules are blocking local elections voters from casting their ballot

Most Popular

Read All
Here's when people will get the next cost of living payment in 2023
1.

Here's when people will get the next cost of living payment in 2023

Strike dates 2023: From trains to airports to tube lines, here are the dates to know
2.

Strike dates 2023: From trains to airports to tube lines, here are the dates to know

Suranne Jones opens up about her 'relentless and terrifying' experiences of bullying
3.

Suranne Jones opens up about her 'relentless and terrifying' experiences of bullying

Arctic Monkeys team up with Big Issue to produce unique tour programme
4.

Arctic Monkeys team up with Big Issue to produce unique tour programme