Boris Johnson posed with a giant England flag
(Picture: Simon Dawson / No10 Downing Street)Boris Johnson has been roasted on social media after posing with a giant St George’s flag.
The Prime Minister was indulging in some man of the people schtick ahead of England’s quarter-final game against Ukraine tonight.
10 Downing Street have just released *this* picture… 🏴 https://t.co/MfnRaplMtg pic.twitter.com/W4xF1ggxvM
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) July 2, 2021
Alongside the photo, he released a video saying he was “very proud” to have “signed the flag” and that it was “supporting all the values that our country represents”.
“Come on England in the match today,” he said.
But not everyone enjoyed his display of patriotism and the comments rolled in on Twitter, criticising Johnson.
Some implied his gesture was hypocritical, given he said those who take the knee before games to show their support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement were indulging in “gesture politics”:
‘I don’t believe in gesture politics’
— Paul Johnson (@paul__johnson) July 2, 2021
-Boris Johnson pic.twitter.com/uBYleIHegx
failure is an orphan but success has many fathers pic.twitter.com/xOy2oB5rDt
— Henry Mance (@henrymance) July 2, 2021
So England matters but you showed NO bloody support for Scotland or Wales. Gesture politics at its absolute WORST.
— 𝓙𝓸𝓱𝓷 𝓲𝓷 𝓑𝓾𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲 🇷🇴🇪🇺🇬🇧 (@JohninBucuresti) July 3, 2021
Others complained that Johnson had not shown as much support for Wales and Scotland, while their teams were in the competition:
"Siri, show me a picture that explains why Scottish people want England to get fucking pumped at the Euros" https://t.co/72Ia8B9W3F
— Jim (@Barcajim3) July 2, 2021
He wouldn't have done this for Wales.
— Three.Words.Work (@ThreeWordsWork) July 2, 2021
He wouldn't have done this for Scotland.
And that's why this Kingdom will never be United under Johnson.
And others, inevitably, made some memes and jokes in response to the image:
HANCOOOOCKKKK!!! *shakes fist* pic.twitter.com/I3P9CTpCUl
— HappyToast ★ (@IamHappyToast) July 2, 2021
— christhebarker (@christhebarker) July 2, 2021
They told him he had to find his way out of the maze. He’s been in there since Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/2CWJsoFY1E
— Flic Everett (@fliceverett) July 2, 2021
Its an optical illusion. The flag didn't get bigger it's just the stature of the UK Prime Minister that's been significantly reduced. pic.twitter.com/fDY6VSvUek
— Otto English (@Otto_English) July 2, 2021
Earlier this week, Johnson enjoyed England’s game against Germany, which they won 2-0. After posting a photo of him perched on the edge of a table to watch the game, he received similar treatment from the Twitter commentariate.
Perhaps he should stay off social media for a while.
