He didn’t quite say, ”Is it still raining? I hadn't noticed,” but Rishi Sunak’s determination to give his general election announcement without an umbrella made the prime minister an instant meme.
Social media did what it does best as a rain-sodden Mr Sunak was forced to raise his voice above the D:Ream song Things Can Only Get Better, which protester Steve Bray blasted out of a boombox.
There was a lot of material to work with and X (formerly Twitter) users didn’t disappoint with their comical mocking of the PM as he announced the July 4 election.
Mr Sunak earned comparisons to Withnail & I, Only Fools & Horses and, inevitably, Alan Partridge. Meanwhile, the Brenda from Bristol video from 2017 was, of course, given another airing.
Here are some of the best memes of Mr Sunak’s surprise announcement.
Four Weddings and a Funeral 2?
Why do I get the feeling that Rishi Sunak was auditioning for a remake of Four Weddings & a Funeral? #generalelection pic.twitter.com/GyVOm5sYLG
— Louisa Gummer 🕷💙🇪🇺🇺🇦 (@LouisaGummer) May 22, 2024
Withnail & I referenced
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) May 22, 2024
Rodney from Only Fools and Horses comparison
— Michael Park (@ParkyParkyTweeT) May 22, 2024
Another outing for the bus photo
This photo was originally used on BBC Look North in 2021 and showed the prime minister promoting local transport.
But his chat with a local bus user has been parodied many times — with the latest offering joking that the PM might have been asking for a coat.
Can I borrow your cagoule? pic.twitter.com/GyGxrKigM1
— GlennyRodge (@GlennyRodge) May 22, 2024
The wally without a brolly
Nick Murphy wondered if the former England manager Steve McClaren has put a generation off umbrella use. McClaren was nicknamed "the wally with the brolly" after England's 3-2 defeat to Croatia in November 2007, leading to their failure to qualify for the 2008 European Championship.
During the crucial match, McClaren stood on the sidelines holding an umbrella (brolly) to shield himself from the rain. This was widely ridiculed because it symbolised his perceived ineffectiveness and poor game management.
Do you reckon he’d have a brolly here if England hadn’t lost to Croatia in 2007?
— Nick Murphy (@NickMurphy1995) May 22, 2024
A bad D:Ream?
Things Can Only Get Better was released more than 30 years ago in 1993 and the song still haunts the Conservative Party.
Labour used it as its anthem during its successful election campaign in 1997 and it was blasted out again on Wednesday night.
FFS, some of us are trying to listen to D:Ream mate
— Matt Forde (@mattforde) May 22, 2024
Comparison to Ralph Wiggum... the final insult?
— Joe Poser (@J_Poser) May 22, 2024
No, apparently it gets worse
With a textbook comparison to Alan Partridge.
— Balderdash (@notDcfcBoss) May 22, 2024
The TUC joins in the fun
Another old adversary of the Tories, the TUC (Trades Union Congress), joined in on the fun.
Forced to work in the rain unnecessarily?
— Trades Union Congress (@The_TUC) May 22, 2024
Join a union. pic.twitter.com/yiq1jamHIT
