Nothing energises the meme-makers of British Twitter more than the spectacle of a political crisis, and the protracted death throes of Boris Johnson’s premiership have produced a bumper crop.
With the overnight news that Johnson was seemingly hunkered down in No 10 for the long haul, the task of removing him from office was pitched as one of trickier Taskmaster challenges that Alex Horne has set.
'Remove a PM who's trying to cling on to power. You may use food items, lingerie and sturdy netting, but no weapons. Your time starts now' pic.twitter.com/doK7BJDAcZ
— Rainy (@rainy101) July 7, 2022
There was also a suggestion that those remaining in Johnson’s government could take the same approach they had proposed to replace striking railway workers – and go for temporary agency ministers as a replacement.
Oh, that’s good. 😂 pic.twitter.com/S8iqWOIKaK
— Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) July 6, 2022
But there was an overall sense that, ultimately, Johnson was facing a losing battle.
Downing Street, now. pic.twitter.com/Jhbs3LNJ5j
— Barnaby Edwards (@BarnabyEdwards) July 7, 2022
Some observers cast a contrast with the exit of the two previous Conservative prime ministers to be ousted by their party.
David Cameron went with a whistle, Theresa May with tears, looks like bailiffs for Boris
— Dan O'Donoghue (@MrDanDonoghue) July 7, 2022
Some thought about who ultimately was to blame.
Third prime minister in a row to be brought down by Boris Johnson.
— Peter Salmon (@petesalmon) July 6, 2022
There was an inevitability that Father Ted would pop up as people speculated on what a Boris Johnson resignation speech might look like.
Live footage from Boris Johnson's resignation speech. pic.twitter.com/C523KXSGyy
— Matthew D Bold (@MatthewDBold1) July 7, 2022
Comedian Nish Kumar joined in with a screenshot he had for just the occasion.
— Nish Kumar (@MrNishKumar) July 7, 2022
And, for once, the feline comparisons at No 10 were not about Larry the Downing Street cat, but the prime minister himself.
Boris Johnson employing the same strategy as my cat, insisting they’ve a desire to leave and then when the exit is opened, just standing there and not moving.
— TwistedDoodles (@twisteddoodles) July 7, 2022
If the Conservatives were looking for a caretaker figure to swoop in at the last moment to steady a rocking ship and save them from relegation to opposition, then there was only one man with the reputation for the job: Sam Allardyce.
Sam allardyce to replace Boris Johnson until the end of the season #borisjohnson pic.twitter.com/adznolfoiL
— martyboy (@wapshott_martin) July 7, 2022
Despite his best efforts, with the news that Johnson was to make a statement to the nation, it was finally time for the end credits to roll.
— Mo' (@mocent0) July 6, 2022
And as ever, we all thought wistfully back to that prophetic tweet by David Cameron seven years ago.
Britain faces a simple and inescapable choice - stability and strong Government with me, or chaos with Ed Miliband: https://t.co/fmhcfTunbm
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) May 4, 2015
