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Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, center, stands next to candidate ‘Lord Buckethead’ in Maidenhead.
Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, center, stands next to candidate ‘Lord Buckethead’ in Maidenhead. Photograph: Alastair Grant/AP
Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, center, stands next to candidate ‘Lord Buckethead’ in Maidenhead. Photograph: Alastair Grant/AP

The 10 strangest moments of general election night

This article is more than 6 years old

If you’re waking up to the shock news of a hung parliament, let social media guide you through the night’s most startling moments

Election 2017 - latest updates

1) That exit poll, which was just too much for some of you.

That shock exit poll at 10pm on Thursday showed a hung parliament, which would see the Conservatives as the largest party but far from the mandate Theresa May’s supporters were expecting. It was all too much for some:

Holy shit.

— Britain Elects (@britainelects) June 8, 2017

2) The glee of George Osborne

ITV had the big beasts of the previous era - Ed Balls and George Osborne - leading their election night coverage. Osborne, the chancellor turned newspaperman, could barely contain his glee at the mixed night for May’s Brexit election. All from a journalistic standpoint, we’re sure.

Get yourself a girl that looks at you the way George Osborne looks at exit polls. pic.twitter.com/qZjQHkZLht

— Simon Parkin (@SimonParkin) June 8, 2017

3) This glorious Emily Thornberry sass

Labour’s Emily Thornberry was on spiky form on the BBC’s general election program. When David Dimbleby asked whether the developing situation meant a “coalition of chaos” or just chaos, Thornberry wondered whether the same question had been put to the Tories.

Emily Thornberry gets spiky with David Dimbleby - video

4) This excruciating high five attempt

On a pretty triumphant night for Corbyn and his supporters, there was one moment of high five high comedy, as he tried to celebrate his win with the aforementioned Thornberry.

Corbyn celebrates great election night with one of worst high fives of all time - video

5) Lord Buckethead...

As is traditional, a large number of ridiculous candidates stood on in the prime minister’s constituency, providing a strong and stable backdrop as May attempted to explain that the night hadn’t been a disaster for her leadership.

Arise, Lord Buckethead.

not sure how to explain this to our non-British followers pic.twitter.com/pjj4QXeaYs

— Guardian politics (@GdnPolitics) June 9, 2017

6)... And Mr Fishfinger

Tim Farron managed to cling on to his seat, defeating a strong challenge from Labour and a man dressed as a fish finger.

And Tim Farron ran against someone called Mr Fishfinger. Britain is not doomed, I repeat, Britain is not doomed pic.twitter.com/oRDSp48aBp

— Katy Lee (@kjalee) June 9, 2017

7) The end of Nick Clegg

The Lib Dems made some gains, particularly in south west London. But Nick Clegg’s hold over the People’s Republic of South Yorkshire (better known as Sheffield Hallam) was ended by Labour, returning us to a land of Nick Clegg looking sad memes.

If you zoom in on Nick Clegg you can actually pinpoint the exact moment his heart breaks. pic.twitter.com/nKDQCY9US7

— Danny O'Dwyer (@dannyodwyer) June 9, 2017

8) Those rumoured Amber Rudd recounts

It is gone 3am. Rumours that Amber Rudd may have lost her seat are everywhere. Has there been a recount? Will we ever get a result in Hastings?

She clung on in the end.

It is 2067, and Amber Rudd is dead, but her estate is demanding the 232,329th recount.

— David Whitley (@mrdavidwhitley) June 9, 2017

9) Endless fields of wheat jokes

For at least an hour, social media was little but schadenfreude-related fields of wheat jokes. Safe to say, Theresa May need to update her naughtiness list.

Theresa May just been running through that wheat field again #GE2017 pic.twitter.com/Y1B8NBmjzf

— Brétt Mendöza (@BrettMendoza) June 8, 2017

10) Farewell, Alex Salmond

Amber Rudd may have survived, but Alex Salmond, the former SNP leader, was unseated by the Conservatives, in order to spend more time with his ice lollies.

For old time's sake.

My Desperate Search To Find The Woman Who Alex Salmond Fed A Solero To In 1999 https://t.co/J6EE5dONo9

— Jamie Ross (@JamieRoss7) June 9, 2017

More on this story

More on this story

  • Double trouble: the fight to be the real Lord Buckethead

  • Ten genuinely great things the internet gave us in 2017, featuring baby hippos

  • Lord Buckethead, a crocodile rant and Brenda from Bristol – the year’s best political cameos

  • The Glastonbury 2017 barometer – strong and stable, or weak and wobbly?

  • Lord Buckethead: 'A pain au chocolat could negotiate Brexit better than Theresa May'

  • John Oliver's plan for Theresa May: send Lord Buckethead to negotiate Brexit

  • Lord Buckethead, Elmo and Mr Fishfinger: a very British election

  • Just woken up? Here’s what you missed on a remarkable election night

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