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

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.

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.