Britain’s most cringeworthy political moments: The UK’s biggest gaffes and scandals
From hot mic-disasters to rain showers and scandals which ended careers, these are Britain’s most cringeworthy political moments.
Drown and out: Rishi Sunak calls the 2024 General Election
As Sunak began speaking on the steps of No.10, torrential rain began to fall on a Prime Minister completely exposed to the elements, leaving him absolutely drenched.
To make matters even worse for Sunak, Labour anthem “Things Can Only Get Better,” was blasted from a nearby speaker, making large parts of the speech difficult to hear.
The soaking turned out to be an unfortunate metaphor for what follows. Six weeks later, the Conservatives were on the opposition benches after Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour stormed to government in a landslide victory.
Boris Johnson takes cover... in a walk-in fridge
During the 2019 election campaign, Boris Johnson found himself confronted by Good Morning Britain (GMB) reporter, Johnathan Swain, while loading milk onto a delivery truck.
With Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid watching on from the studio, the moments that followed were broadcast live to the nation.
A visibly taken aback Johnson looked for ways to take cover, while his press secretary, Rob Oxley, launched into a foul-mouthed tirade, proclaiming “Oh for f*** sake” directly into the camera and to the viewers at home.
Things became even more surreal when Johnson was ushered into a nearby walk-in fridge, seemingly to hide from scrutiny.
Theresa May's gaffe ridden conference speech.
Seeking a reset after a humiliating election result in the 2017 General Election, then-PM, Theresa May, took to the stage to deliver a barnstorming conference speech that would prove her doubters wrong. If only that is what happened.
Attempting to deliver her speech between bouts of severe coughing, things got so bad for May that she was eventually handed a cough sweet by then-Chancellor of the Exchequer, Phillip Hammond.
Still coughing and spluttering her way through the speech, she was then approached by comedian, Simon Brodkin, who handed her a P45 notice "on behalf of Boris Johnson.”
If things still couldn't get worse for May, they somehow did; as she delivered her closing remarks, the letters from the backdrop behind began falling to the floor.
Jeremy Corbyn's disastrous high-five
After a surprisingly strong showing for Labour in the 2017 General Election, a jubilant Jeremy Corbyn arrived at the count in his Islington North constituency where he was re-elected as an MP.
Also present was Emily Thornberry, the MP for the neighbouring constitunecy of Islington South. As they posed for the cameras together, Corbyn went in for a seemingly routine high -five. It went spectacularly wrong.
As Thornberry unexpectedly moved her hand, Corbyn’s hand missed its intended target and instead struck Thornberry on her breast.
The footage quickly went viral, earning a reputation as one of the worst high-fives in political history.
'Bigotgate'
The 2010 General Election produced one of the most awkward hot-mic moments for then-PM, Gordon Brown.
While campaigning in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, Brown stopped to speak to lifelong Labour voter, Gillian Duffy. Things did not go to plan however, as Duffy unexpectedly challenged Brown on immigration, debt and welfare.
The conversation appeared to end amicably, and Brown got into his waiting car.
Unfortunately for Brown, he had forgotten to turn his microphone off and his words were being broadcast straight to Sky News HQ.
Brown at first described the encounter as “a disaster,” before referring to Duffy as a “bigoted woman.”
Brown later made a humiliating journey to Duffy’s house, where he apologised to her personally over a cup of tea.
Return the what?
Some political gaffes are unfortunate. Others leave you wondering whether the politician had skipped breakfast.
Delivering his 2024 Labour conference speech, Keir Starmer was discussing the war in Gaza and calling for the return of the Israeli hostages, when his tongue (and apparently his stomach) had other plans.
He said: “I call again for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the return of the Sausages...” before quickly correcting himself.
Starmer later admitted that he had “mangled the beginning of the word,” but the most important question remains unanswered; Did he skip breakfast?
Matt Hancock's 'playboy moment'
Few political scandals have been able to combine adultery, hypocrisy and CCTV footage quite as spectacularly as the exposure of Matt Hancock’s affair.
The then health secretary was caught on camera, in footage obtained by The Sun, passionately kissing his aide, Gina Coladangelo, in his ministerial office – at a time when his own covid restrictions required social distancing.
The footage was bad enough, but the fact that Hancock had been the man in charge of the health service, throughout the ongoing pandemic made the event absolutely devastating.
Worst still, Hancock was married to the mother of his children and ended the marriage just hours before the story hit the front pages.
The incident is quite possibly the best example of the much-used phrase: “Do as I say, not as I do.”
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