Prime Minister Theresa May and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn faced a grilling on Channel 4/Sky News last night ahead of the general election, which is now just over a week away (yes, really). But Tory HQ might be regretting letting the PM loose on live TV, as her performance is being widely mocked on social media.
Yes, we've learned to take the prevailing "consensus" on social media with a grain of salt, thanks to the 2015 general election and EU referendum results. Our Twitter accounts tend to be echo chambers of our own beliefs, and it's tricky to know what impact (if any) the grilling will have on the election result.
But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the GIFs people are sharing to mock May's performance. #TheresaMayGIFs began trending last night and people are still using it to characterise her appearance as shoddy and counterproductive to the Tory cause.
Theresa May's election campaign so far. #TheresaMayGifs pic.twitter.com/vcgL2zZ3qw
— David Schneider (@davidschneider) May 29, 2017
#theresamaygifs Strong & Stable. pic.twitter.com/yskJ8Pmo3q
— Dom SP (@DomCMM) May 29, 2017
Theresa May's response when asked to do another public debate. #TheresaMayGIFs #BattleForNumber10 pic.twitter.com/AFNnRbmfxl
— Elliot Newstead (@ejnewstead) May 29, 2017
How Theresa May expected it to go vs how it actually went.#TheresaMayGIFs pic.twitter.com/uRukcKnhe6
— Stuart Brown (@StuartLeeBrown) May 29, 2017
@OwenJones84 @theresa_may Theresa May when she comes within 5 miles of a real question on her uncosted manifesto #TheresaMayGIFs pic.twitter.com/2fERL1yHGp
— Ashley Borges (@aborgestweets) May 29, 2017
After 30 minutes of waffling on... #TheresaMayGifs #BattleForNumber10 pic.twitter.com/mN2kIRKGsR
— Peter J Holland (@PeterjHolland) May 29, 2017
When faced with a member of the actual public #BattleForNumber10 #theresamaygifs pic.twitter.com/NmcPXKFp54
— JocMoran (@JocelynMoran18) May 29, 2017
Watching May crumble on #BattleForNumber10. Reaffirmed everything I knew about her - disaster #TheresaMayGIFs pic.twitter.com/AcmSRFaJT9
— Cheryl Diane (@cheryldthomas1) May 29, 2017
Many have expressed empathy with Tory HQ.
#TheresaMayGifs Conservative PR department right now. pic.twitter.com/UnnK5A4ngs
— Emily Crawford (@Crawf28) May 29, 2017
#TheresaMayGIFs Tory HQ after TV debate pic.twitter.com/4F42Q4BfvA
— Steve Callen (@steve_callen) May 29, 2017
The mood at Conservative HQ tonight #TheresaMayGifs pic.twitter.com/jkQ5BmTHWY
— Jane Waring (@warijan) May 29, 2017
Corbyn supporters, meanwhile, are posting sassy GIFs to suggest they're feeling pretty pleased with themselves right now.
#TheresaMayGIFs - Jeremy Colbyn in action pic.twitter.com/aEhBkIRttF
— Dook Domini (@platinumshore) May 30, 2017
Nice try but... #TheresaMayGIFs pic.twitter.com/BvGyIpPdRg
— Niall Suibhne (@NiallSuibhne) May 29, 2017
Corbyn striding home tonight #TheresaMayGIFs pic.twitter.com/TnkaTKnSVD
— Ricki Lord (@Ricki2901) May 29, 2017
And while Theresa May GIFs continue to entertain, there's also a song calling her a "liar" sitting at number three in the UK iTunes download chart. The song, "Liar Liar GE2017", produced and performed by Captain Ska, lambasts the PM's impact on the NHS, poverty and education, and criticises the Tories' recent U-turns, including on calling the snap election.
"When there’s nurses going hungry and schools in decline I don’t recognise this broken country of mine," the lyrics read. All profits from downloads between 26th May and the 8th June election with be split between food banks and the People’s Assembly Against Austerity.
if #TheresaMayGifs wasn't enough, #LiarLiarGe2017 is number 2 in the charts! pic.twitter.com/r3s3UCmHn6
— Yvette Dunn (@YvetteCDunn) May 30, 2017
Radio stations, including Capital FM and Heart, have so far refused to play the catchy track but a petition against this "censorship" has garnered more than 1,400 signatures at the time of writing.
The TV and radio regulator, Ofcom, says broadcasters must be impartial, but Captain Ska said they wouldn't necessarily be breaking the rules by playing a short section of the song or describing it on air.
Not convinced playing a short section of #LiarLiar or just describing the song/band is covered in this! More explanation needed @BigTop40! https://t.co/jutmiL2ZbE
— Captain SKA (@CaptainSKA) May 29, 2017
Either way, we don't envy the poor folks in the Tory press office right now.
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