All the best General Election 2024 memes so far

 UK 

Rishi Sunak's General Election announcement hijacked by fan favourite Larry the Downing Street cat

Chief Mouser Larry the Cat stole the spotlight from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he ended months of speculation and confirmed the General Election would be held on July 4

Larry the Cat stole much of the public's attention (
Image: Tim Merry)NEWS

By Anders Anglesey

News Reporter

MIRROR

 22 May 2024

A soggy Rishi Sunak hoped to set out the Conservative Party's stall as he announced the date of the General Election only for Larry - the beloved Downing Street cat - to hijack his moment.

Heavy rain and blaring speakers downed out the Prime Minister as he called a snap election for July 4 following months of speculation about when the nation would next go to the polls. Despite his valiant attempts to defend his Government's record in office, it was a fellow Downing Street resident that won many of the public's attention.

As the Prime Minister addressed reporters outside No 10, viewers watching the announcement noticed the "Chief Mouser" was also caught in the rain. The feline was spotted sitting on the window before shifting to stand outside the door to No 10, no doubt in the hope he would be let in. Larry's predicament captured the hearts of many, who took to social media to share their concern.


UK General Election 2024 LIVE updates as soggy Rishi Sunak announces snap vote on July 4

Larry the Cat hijacked the Prime Minister's announcement (
Image: SKY News)

X user @Moswazowskinail said: "Larry the Cat is on the window. Let him in. Also, they cut the cameras away from Downing Street so do not know what's happening right now." Social media user @Ekklesia_co_uk added: "Larry the Cat has come out of No 10 and is sitting on the window, looking very unimpressed."

Others praised Larry, joking that he was more trusted than several Westminster politicians. The X commenter @LucyDBLanguage posted: "Larry @Number10cat looking way more statesmanslike (sic) on the steps of Downing Street than Sunak did." While @HelenYoung16 commented: "Larry the Cat sitting on the front step knowing he's the only Downing Street resident most of us trust."

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Things Can Only Get Better drowns out Rishi Sunak’s election speech

CHARLIE HERBERT

  News 

22nd May 2024

‘Whoever is playing Things Can Only Get Better during Rishi’s announcement deserves a gong’

The song Things Can Only Get Better blared out in the background as Rishi Sunak announced a surprise general election.

In an announcement outside Downing Street on Wednesday, the Prime Minister confirmed the country would head to the polls in six weeks time on July 4.

But as he stood outside Number 10 in the rain delivering his speech, protestors managed to get Things Can Only Get Better playing on a loud speaker.

You can watch the moment below.

Rishi Sunak drowned out by Things Can Only Get Better

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Along with the obvious message of the song’s title, the D:Ream track was also used by Labour during the 1997 general election, when Tony Blair won a huge 179-seat majority for the party.

Reacting on social media, one person wrote: “Whoever is playing ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ during Rishi’s announcement deserves a gong. Lol”

Another said: “Someone’s playing Things Can Only Get Better phahaha.”

Someone’s playing Things Can Only Get Better phahaha #GeneralElection pic.twitter.com/5RdyUXqepd

— Tom (@tommtthw) May 22, 2024

Meanwhile, comedian Kathy Burke described the song choice as “so f***ing perfect.”

Someone else wrote: “Sorry it’s really funny that he’s visibly being rained on and drowned out by things can only get better.”

Rumours that Sunak would call an election had been circulating on social media throughout Wednesday, with Downing Street sources not ruling out an early election announcement.

In recent weeks, the prime minister had said a general election would take place in the second half of 2024, but it was widely assumed this would not be until the autumn.

ITV reports that there had been a split in the Tory party over whether to hold an election in July or November.

Meanwhile the Guardian says that government insiders had warned Sunak that the economy was unlikely to improve much over the summer, whilst questions would continue about the Rwanda policy.

The publication says it was this that convinced the PM to call an election early.

The latest an election could have been called is December 17 this year, which would have been the fifth anniversary of the day this Parliament first met.

Anyone on the electoral register aged 18 or above on polling day can vote as long as they are:

• a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a Republic of Ireland citizen with a UK address
• not legally excluded from voting

You must be on the electoral register in order to vote. You can register to vote at any time if you are 16 or over, or 14 or over in Scotland and Wales. To register to vote, click here.

UK citizens who live abroad can now register to vote in the constituency where they were previously on the electoral roll.

Related links:

Pensioner expertly breaks down why younger generation will never own homes

Martin Lewis slams minister to his face on the state of education

WATCH: Is Rishi Sunak about to call an election? Sewage in the taps and online misogyny | PMQs reaction

  

‘Inauspicious’ PM announces election in the rain with ‘It Can Only Get Better’ blaring in background

Rishi Sunak surprised Westminster by calling the election earlier than had been widely expected.

by David Hughes
2024-05-22


Rishi Sunak has called a General Election for July 4, saying it was “the moment for Britain to choose its future”.

The Prime Minister has gambled that improved inflation figures and a recovering economy will help him overturn Labour’s 20-point opinion poll lead.

In a sign that security and the economy will be key battlegrounds, Mr Sunak said: “This election will take place at time when the world is more dangerous than it has been since the end of the Cold War.”

The “uncertain times” call for a “clear plan”, he said.





A July election is earlier than many in Westminster had expected, with a contest in October or November widely thought to have been more likely.

Mr Sunak’s announcement came after the Office for National Statistics said Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation slowed to 2.3% in April, down from 3.2% in March.

He said that was a “major milestone” for the country, with inflation now “back to normal” levels.

One reason for delaying might have been to allow Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to deliver another tax-cutting financial statement in the lead-up to the vote, but official figures revealed borrowing for April overshot forecasts, hitting £20.5 billion, suggesting he would have had limited scope for pre-election giveaways.

 

All the best General Election 2024 memes so far

Tom SandersPublished May 22, 2024, 6:26pm|Updated May 22, 2024, 

Social media has delivered its verdict on Rishi’s GE annoucement (Picture: Getty)

Rishi Sunak has finally announced a General Election, and predictably, it has all got off to a chaotic start.

Following a day of feverish speculation which set social media alight, ‘Hot Podium Guy’ took to the stage and paved the way for Rishi Sunak to announce what most of us had been anticipating all day- an election was coming on July 4.

Making the annoucement drenched by heavy rain while protesters blasted the New Labour anthem ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ in the background, it wasn’t exactly an ideal start for Sunak, and with his party trailing massively in the polls already it looks to be an uphill struggle for our embattled PM.

But while both parties get to work on their sloganeering and pitches to the electorate, the peanut gallery on Twitter has already provided a snap verdict on the opening round. So without further ado, here’s the best memes, tweets and reactions from the PM’s announcement:

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