On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab was accused of winking at the Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner during PMQs.
The alleged wink happened as Raab mocked Rayner over the train strikes, calling her a “champagne socialist” for attending the opera last week during the walkouts.
The wink caused an uproar on social media, with Twitter users labelling Raab “sexist and classist” for the move, while MP Toby Perkins said he felt “soiled” bu witnessing the wink.
Here are some of the world’s other most infamous winks, from George Bush winking at the Queen, to Sarah Palin during the 2008 vice-presidential debates.
Ronaldo after getting Rooney sent off during the 2006 World Cup
In perhaps one of the most infamous winks of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo batted his eyelid at Wayne Rooney during the 2006 World Cup, after he was given a red card.
Ronaldo caused a national uproar when Portugal beat England on penalties after Rooney was sent off. The England striker was given a red card after he was caught stamping on then-Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho.
After the stamp, Ronaldo protested to the referee for his Manchester United team-mate to be shown a red card, before he was caught winking by the TV cameras, as Rooney was given his marching orders and sent off.
Writing in the Sunday Times in April 202 about the red card, Rooney recalled: “The game was going OK. Then, early in the second half, came my red card.
He added: “I knew it was a red card and back in the dressing room I watched the rest of the game on a little TV, thinking: ‘If we win this, I’m suspended for a World Cup semi-final and final and if we lose it’s my fault’. It was the worst, weirdest feeling I’ve had in football.”
Sarah Palin - 6 times during the vice-presidential debate
In 2008, then vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin caused an uproar when she winked an incredible six times during the vice-presidential debate to the 70 million viewers at her then-rival Senator Joe Biden.
The actions of the 44-year-old Alaska governor left some voters smitten, others confused, and yet more reportedly nauseated.
At the time, reactions included a 26-year-old nurse, Priscilla Glascock, saying that she thought the winks meant Palin was trying to act like a southern belle: “She is trying to act like a southern belle. She is not acting like someone who could be president of the United States and John McCain is one heart attack away.” She added: “The men are going to love it.”
Elsewhere, Amanda Day, 36, a business consultant said: “I think it’s hysterical.” She added: “I think women can relate with being in a situation where it’s very serious, you kind of have to step back and add that humour, whether it’s a wink or it’s a shrug.”
George Bush winking at the Queen in 2007
During his tenure, George Bush gained the moniker “blundering Bush”, due to a series of apparent gaffes.
In 2007, then-president Bush managed to mix up his words when greeting the Queen on one of her visits to the US, stumbling over his sentence during her state visit.
The premiere came perilously close to reportedly suggesting that the monarch had toured the United States in 1776.
After the gaffe, he then turned to the Queen and flashed her a wink, which was initially followed by a royal glare, but thankfully the Queen did eventually seem to see the funny side.
The monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh had flown into the American capital for a two-day stay - the finale of their East Coast trip to the other side of the Atlantic.
Laurie Hernandez winks at the judges during the 2016 Rio Olympics
In the 2016 Rio Olympics, Laurie Hernandez, in her first major international competition, winked at the judges before the biggest floor routine of her elite gymnastics life.
At the time, Hernandez, who was just 16, was one of the youngest women on the US Olympics team, caused quite a stir, and became an enduring meme.
Writing about the moment later in her 2017 book I Got This, she said: “The amazing thing about the Olympics is that you feel so many different emotions in the span of a few days, and they are all intense.”
“So it was nice to have at least one totally playful moment.”
Tony Abbott speaking to a sex worker during a radio phone-in
In 2014, Australia’s then Prime Minister Tony Abbott was co-hosting a radio show with Jon Faine, when he winked during a question from a pensioner who also works as a telephone sex operator.
Abbott was caught on camera winking when the pensioner, who identified herself as Gloria, called into ABC Melbourne 774 and said she worked on an adult line to make ends meet.
A spokeswoman said Abbott was winking at host Jon Faine, who was not on camera, as he had been taken by surprise and had pulled a face.
“The prime minister was indicating he was going to go ahead and answer the question,” the spokeswoman said.
Abbott had just taken two phone calls from people unhappy with the budget and conceded that he was raising taxes.
Scott Morrison gives a wink in response to a reporter’s question on his campaign trail
In April 2022, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had an awkward encounter with a woman while on his campaign trail.
Mr Morrison was campaigning in a lolly shop in the Melbourne suburb of Box Hill, when a reporter asked him if he was a “sweet or sour kind of guy”.
Mr Morrison was caught on camera replying awkwardly while winking at her.
“Oh you know me, I’m sweet as,” he added.
