Politics
Sinead Butler
Dec 23, 2021
With the Covid pandemic continuing to affect daily life and supply chain shortages causing headaches, the odd affair scandal here, some sleaze uncovered there and those alleged Christmas parties making headlines, it is fair to say 2021 has been quite the year for British politics.
Much like literary canons of the past, we can immortalise these historical events (thanks to the power of the internet) through some hilarious memes - after all, who can forget David Cameron’s piggate palaver, Ed Miliband insisting he’s “tough enough,” Jeremy Corbyn’s “we’re back” speech and Theresa May’s dance moves - to name just a few.
It is no different this year. How else would we get through these bleak times?
So, let’s take a trip down meme-ory lane with a chronological rundown of all the different times politicians became memes this year (and there’s a LOT).
Budget press photo becomes instant meme
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Photo calls can be the origins of some meme-worthy content - and this was the case for the Spring budget.
The image, taken by the Press Association in March, sees Sunak on the stairs of Number 11, alongside other members of his Treasury team, such as Steve Barclay and Kemi Badenoch.
We’re sure that looking like something out of the horror movie The Shining wasn’t exactly the vibe Chancellor Rishi Sunak was going for, though people couldn’t help but point out the strange angle and positioning of the snap.
All gone a bit lockdown stair crazy. https://t.co/XbLDSuWwU7— Gary Lineker 💙 (@Gary Lineker 💙) 1614771842
has anyone done this one yet, before I go to bed https://t.co/tjNFusJG46— Mollie Goodfellow (@Mollie Goodfellow) 1614808523
Worst album cover ever. #Budget2021 https://t.co/Hg2jCLcZLk— James Melville (@James Melville) 1614779022
https://t.co/vpgpW2NHWO— TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) 1614773438
Keir Starmer’s leadership gets memed after Hartlepool loss
Labour leader Keir Starmer couldn’t avoid the meme treatment after a historic loss of a by-election in Hartlepool in May this year. The seat was once was a former Labour stronghold, held by the party since 1974 and but fell to the Tories.
Alas, people couldn’t help but create some savage memes to highlight the brutal turn of events for Labour.
Fighting for every vote 😶🥊 #KeirStarmer #HartlepoolByElection #Hartlepool #Labour https://t.co/7dttEDrRU8— Spoofed (@Spoofed) 1620151921
Now we all realise it wasn’t a smear campaign, he was actually picking new wallpaper for his retirement cottage 😂… https://t.co/J7hVo0e0hc— BLAIM GAME (@BLAIM GAME) 1620371381
I won’t be voting Labour because I’m a socialist. #StarmerOut https://t.co/7WDvFIYXb6— Truth & Justice 🟨🟥 Socialism 🇨🇺🇵🇸🇻🇳🏳️⚧️ (@Truth & Justice 🟨🟥 Socialism 🇨🇺🇵🇸🇻🇳🏳️⚧️) 1620299165
Nicola Sturgeon doing a thumbs up becomes a meme
During the Scottish Parliament election, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon casually gave a thumbs up to reporters as she campaigned for re-election in her constituency of Glasgow Southside – while (spoiler alert - she won her seat).
Despite the thumbs up, she didn’t appear to be that jolly at all (some election day jitters perhaps?) Whatever the reason, the picture was turned into a hilarious meme by the amused Twittersphere as people used it as a reaction photo.
Found my new favourite reaction image https://t.co/0XNcDL3Iuj— Richard Flynn (@Richard Flynn) 1620328843
*barber lifts up mirror* how’s that for you, pal? Me: https://t.co/UBXYtjbt9M— Richard Flynn (@Richard Flynn) 1620329358
@_rpflynn When you're absolutely ruined and should have gone home hours ago but yer mate asks if you want shots https://t.co/wq4Zmp3z4z— Sir Chillalot (@Sir Chillalot) 1620378746
@_rpflynn “Hi, hope this email finds you well during these uncertain times” Me: https://t.co/doOWVTTz5Q— iconoclast /ʌɪˈkɒnəklast/ (@iconoclast /ʌɪˈkɒnəklast/) 1620460223
@_rpflynn @BigDirtyFry Was learned from the greatest https://t.co/JKjbI1JSsk— Shaun Miley (@Shaun Miley) 1620384911
Matt Hancock running away from a reporter sparks jokes
Sometimes the most unexpected moments can become an instant meme - which was certainly the case of Matt Hancock when he dodged reporters questions about Dominic Cummings’ explosive hearing.
Instead of answering questions, he urged over 30s to go and get their vaccine, before going on a jog and as he sprinted off reporters tried to question the then health secretary once more, but he rather decided to awkwardly wave with his back to the cameras, and thus from the odd response - a meme was born.
People compared Hancock’s move to something straight out of an Alan Partridge comedy and joked about how he ran off.
Somewhere in Twitter heaven, @AccidentalP is smiling down on us. https://t.co/Idoh3rCiov— Andy Ha (@Andy Ha) 1622017495
https://t.co/suFMt3gfpH https://t.co/jd57qxcLj2— Kristian (@Kristian) 1622025669
@SkyNews https://t.co/DADALuo6zT— James (@James) 1622015187
ThatMatt Hancock scandal
Hancock became a meme a second time after it was revealed he was having an affair with his aide Gina Coladangelo.
What’s worse is that we had to see this play out with our own eyes when CCTV footage from Hancock’s Whitehall office was leaked showing the pair kissing back in April - breaking Covid restrictions that were still in place.
As a result, Hancock dramatically resigned as health secretary on June 26 after he admitted to breaking Covid rules.
Of course, this political bombshell caused an explosion of memes about the story.
Matt Hancock - It Was Me (Shaggy Parody). Written / Performed by myself. Edits by @CarlossRicoo. #healthsecretary… https://t.co/EaEeSC4TFY— Munya Chawawa (@Munya Chawawa) 1624636455
[radio 4 thought for the day voice] and in a way, haven’t we all been fucked by Matt Hancock— James Felton (@James Felton) 1624616844
how is Hancock having more of a hot girl summer than me— Tara Jane O’Reilly (@Tara Jane O’Reilly) 1624605016
At least Hancock wasn’t lying when he said he was hard at work— Marina Purkiss (@Marina Purkiss) 1624697021
the matt hancock video but it’s the end of a big brother episode in 2004 https://t.co/ohm5c5kNAF— jackson davies (@jackson davies) 1624655084
Love Island better bring the drama this year because Matt Hancock’s recoupling has set the bar high.— B (@B) 1624656376
“I’VE GOT A TEXT!” #LoveIsland Incredible scenes as Matt Hancock is now priced at 100/1 to appear on @LoveIsland… https://t.co/4YtgD5AnEm— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) 1624620273
And the memes certainly didn’t stop there, when Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie were pictured watching the England vs Germany Euro 2020 game on his office TV - and Twitter immediately knew what to do.
One photoshopper decided to superimpose the CCTV footage of Hancock and Coladangelo kissing onto the TV screen Johnson and his wife were watching the football on.
@BorisJohnson https://t.co/c4FQ7PJW0C— Simon Lawson (@Simon Lawson) 1624986367
Dominic Raab making a phone call
Another government released image made people laugh this year.
This time, people on Twitter were ridiculing a press photo taken of the then-foreign secretary Raab sitting at his desk and speaking on the phone. The photo was released when Raab came under fire for being on away at a five-star resort on the Greek island of Crete, while the Taliban marched on the Afghanistan capital, Kabul to take control of the country.
Through the art of memes, some mocked him for this, while they imagined what Raab was saying on the phone and hilariously guessed who exactly he was talking to on the other end of the line.
"Hello, is that room service? Two strawberry daiquiris please." https://t.co/zuXWb32URd— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@Julia Hartley-Brewer) 1629391567
https://t.co/nXcRNqexbz https://t.co/eRI70uPkKZ— Robbie Young (@Robbie Young) 1629396259
https://t.co/57ZI6J0YjX https://t.co/UuK2j9c09O— Robbie Young (@Robbie Young) 1629395056
Bit late mate. Unless you're ringing the Prime Minister to resign we're not really bothered about your PR photos o… https://t.co/OiVboRfxr9— Angela Rayner (@Angela Rayner) 1629390570
Keir Starmer writes a 14,000 word essay on his vision for the Labour Party
Often criticised for not taking a strong stance on matters, Labour leader Keir Starmer certainly proved critics wrong when he set out his vision for the party in a 14,000 essay called ‘The Road Ahead’, which was published by thinktank the Fabian Society.
But this time Starmer was roasted for the sheer length of the essay which some thought was too long and a bit dull.
that Keir Starmer essay https://t.co/G2iJq5dXBn— SHANE REACTION (@SHANE REACTION) 1632345584
14,000 word essay by Keir Starmer? https://t.co/NRXJ1wf4OZ— Danny (@Danny) 1632345434
Starmers entire 14,000 word essay in a single image https://t.co/yFpesboROJ— Luke Bailey (@Luke Bailey) 1632347390
Boris Johnson maskless hospital visit
Of course, this wouldn’t be a meme rundown without the meme magnet himself Boris Johnson. In November he was photographed without a mask as he greeted nurses during a hospital visit in Northumberland.
Not exactly setting an example.
While the move prompted backlash on Twitter, the late-night comedy chat show The Last Leg asked viewers to come up with their best photo caption ideas using the hashtag #BorisInAHospital for the show.
#BorisInAHospital ‘Prime Minister, please could you put your mask back on?’ ‘Phwoar, phwoar, I’m too sexy for my ma… https://t.co/VGdaeoKf5q— Eva McIntyre (@Eva McIntyre) 1636755449
"Right chaps - what else in here can we sell off...?" #BorisInAHospital #lastleg @TheLastLeg https://t.co/X2P2Obr1xd— Gemma McGroarty (@Gemma McGroarty) 1636755807
Hospital on lockdown as giant baby escapes from maternity ward #BorisInAHospital https://t.co/blwdhamMtk— Andy G (@Andy G) 1636756868
Boris Johnson CBI speech became a Peppa Pig meme
Johnson made meme history again when a rambling CBI speech didn’t quite come across as well as he perhaps hoped when he used it to reveal he had spent his Sunday afternoon at Peppa Pig World with his wife Carrie and son Wilfred, marvelling at the “pure genius” cartoon creation.
The bizarre reference didn’t go a-miss on Twitter, where people soon posted Peppa-PM related memes to highlight the complete randomness of it all.
"So how did you distract them from the health care bill?" *I pretended I was a car and said I went to Peppa Pig Wo… https://t.co/zp0yttkFkU— Otto Von Jizzmark (@Otto Von Jizzmark) 1637584861
Breaking: Daddy Pig complains to Ofcom after Peppa and George traumatised by Boris Johnson's speech. https://t.co/hskekooz4q— The Poke (@The Poke) 1637652600
“Say ‘Peppa Pig World is very much your kind of place’…” https://t.co/DjcZCXtDDI— Matt Smith (@Matt Smith) 1637590422
#BorisJohnson #PeppaPig https://t.co/UNB2ZHG8Lf— HappyToast ★ (@HappyToast ★) 1637585693
That alleged Downing Street Christmas party
Ending things on a festive note, it seems the latest government scandal has taken on a life of its own online.
The government has been faced with several allegations of parties taking place while the UK was under strict Covid lockdown restrictions - and public outrage ensued following these claims.
A video then emerged of Number 10 staff discussing and joking about how they would respond to questions from the media about the alleged parties and the fallout from this ultimately led Johnson’s spokesperson at the time – Allegra Stratton – to resign.
Although the prime minister denied that the parties took place and that Covid rules were followed, he announced that cabinet secretary Simon Case would investigate whether one of the parties took place. Then, Case stepped down from this role over allegations he was involved in some parties of his own - the scandal just goes on and on.
As you can imagine, the scandal resulted in a strong (and creative) public response as memes relating to the matter spread like wildfire on Twitter.
For every meme-worthy scandal, comedian Munya Chawawa is always guaranteed to create a hilarious video about it.
A Christmas Tory 🎅🏻💊🧀🍷 One to play at the next party... #Boris #PlanB #AllegraStratton (P.S. My debut series ou… https://t.co/vAIikZwuyj— Munya Chawawa (@Munya Chawawa) 1638992469
Piers Morgan had a joke about the whole thing too.
Throwback to my last pandemic business meeting at No10. https://t.co/5bSFuN4NEP— Piers Morgan (@Piers Morgan) 1638993414
Let’s ask Boris Johnson to show us his snap memories live on BBC— 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘦 (@𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘦) 1638971249
🚨Boris denies Downing St Xmas Party 🚨 #PMQs #downingstreetparty https://t.co/NgGKLO82ez— Spoofed (@Spoofed) 1638956938
“Can we have a party this year?” Boris: https://t.co/CogrVMUMOG— No Context Brits (@No Context Brits) 1638993418
If 2021 is anything to go by, then 2022 should be just as jam-packed with hilarious political memes.
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