The voters have done their bit – now for the meme makers. Labour’s general election landslide, and the Conservatives’ wipeout, is being marked across social media in the now time-honoured way.
Yes, it was a curiously serious election compared with ones past, but that doesn’t mean there was no space for levity. Here are some of the best memes from election day and its aftermath, as well as a few from the campaign.
Sunak out of office
The PoliticsJoe account on X with the obligatory Ricky Gervais meme, as the prime minister is turned into David Brent.
Phoenix Bites
Brian Potter, the working men’s club owner played by Peter Kay in Phoenix Nights, doesn’t bother with individual farewells to deposed Tories of note.
Mick sync: RMT boss sees off key Tories
PoliticsJoe put together footage to make it look as if the head of the RMT union was singing “another one bites the dust” to every senior Tory losing their seat. There are, inevitably, a lot of these clips, cluttering up its account as a consequence. But here’s the Jacob Rees-Mogg post.
They know it’s all over
Memes flew shortly after the 10pm exit poll findings, including a clip of this emotional outburst from Cristiano Ronaldo in 2016.
Exit poll? Don’t hold my beer
A merging of politics and football fandom just after 10pm.
The full (uncle) Monty
The relentlessly quotable Withnail and I is trotted out with a tweak to one of its timeless lines.
Starmergeddon
Sometimes a simple gif is enough to sum up what happened on Thursday.
Mixed feelings
The inability to get excited by a Keir Starmer government, despite a Conservative wipeout, has also transferred from the doorstep to the screen.
From the frying pan …
The lack of a 1997 vibe is summarised here.
Labour, and Cilla Black, react to national service
Social media gives savvier members of party comms teams a chance to launch quickfire responses to policies. Here was Labour’s take on Rishi Sunak announcing the return of national service.
Sunak and sewage
The state of Britain’s sewage-filled waterways has been a symbol of the Conservative government’s failings, so the prime minister’s rain-sodden election announcement provided an unmissable opportunity for Cold War Steve.
End of an era
The Conservatives led the country for 14 years. Even if you’ve been following only casually in that time, it’s the end of one storyline and the beginning of a whole new one
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Air taxi for Sunak?
Ryanair, which is very strong on digital bantz as well as low fares, was quick to offer Sunak its services.
Get in the bin
The king of political meme culture, Cold War Steve, marked the moment with a bittersweet take that probably captures the mood.