Twitter wakes to the news that Britain is facing a (well) hung parliament… sparking a flood of hilarious memes
IF THERE’S one place which can be relied on to lighten the mood following the shock General Election result, it’s Twitter.
Social media fans have been quick to share their amazement at the surprise hung parliament outcome with hilarious GIFS and laugh-out-loud memes following Prime Minister Theresa May’s election gamble.
Sky news reported that Twitter was going into "meltdown" at the announcement of the exit poll which showed the Conservatives losing seats and a hung parliament.
Tension continued to build through the night, until the hung parliament result was confirmed at around 6am today.
Others have tweeted their horror at the idea there could be yet another election on its way - if a majority government cannot be formed through a coalition.
Nick Clegg's distraught reaction to losing his seat to Labour and Jeremy Corbyn's high five faux pas were both the focus of Twitter memes through the night.
Other tongue-in-cheek memes suggested Theresa May would be signing up for the next series of Strictly Come Dancing, and wondered who could replace her as Prime Minister - from Boris Johnson to Hugh Grant in Love Actually.
While many people mocked Theresa May for her spectacular "own goal", with Gary Lineker leading the way on this front.
While one extremely confused American pondered why Elmo and Lord Buckethead were up on stage with the PM.
And, if you pulled an all-nighter to watch the election results unravelling live, you can probably relate to a few of the GIFs from exhausted members of the public.
A picture of former Chancellor George Osborne grinning next to Strictly star Ed Balls went viral as he appeared as a pundits on ITV.
Richard Chambers tweeted: "Tonight schadenfreude was the winner for George Osborne".
While user Nafisa Bakkar wrote: "Watching the news like..." along with a GIF featuring a wide-eyed Joey from Friends peering round a door.
One joker even tweeted a GIF of football manager David Moyes, adding: "It's come to the point where this bloke could've done a better job of leading the Torys".
And others have been tweeting in reaction to the SNP's performance in Scotland.
Flatgnostic earther tweeted: "Just got home from work me: I wonder how the election is going?" accompanied by a tweet of Vince McMahon of Wrestling fame falling off a chair.
Jennifer Davidson said: "Hearing about the #ExitPoll and just thinking it was Theresa May's decision to call the snap election."
That was followed by a GIF of DJ Khalid saying: "Congratulations, you played yourself."
While politician David Lammy tweeted a picture of EastEnders' Patrick Trueman falling over in shock in reaction to the exit poll predictions.
Ukip have also been the butt of a great deal of jokes after their vote collapsed following the Brexit election.
While Diane Abbott's appalling counting skills were, unsurprisingly, also the focus of several jokes.
Some of the key details from the turbulent election night:
- Hung parliament confirmed with Tories missing out on majority of 326 with polls predicting 318 seats - down from 330
- Labour forecast to take 262 - up from 232 in 2015.
- Theresa May faces mounting pressure – with the odds slashed on Boris Johnson to be the next PM
- Fears grow Brexit negotiations could be sunk if Mrs May does not secure a majority
- Lib Dem Nick Clegg loses Sheffield Hallam seat but Vince Cable regains Twickenham while leader Tim Farron clings on
- Home Secretary Amber Rudd holds on to Hastings seat by barely 300 votes meaning she stays a contender to replace the PM
- Huge losses for SNP as former chief Alex Salmond and deputy leader Angus Robertson are both beaten by the Tories.
- Labour on march in London beating Tories to Battersea constituency
- Pound slides two per cent as exit poll predicts hung parliament
- Ukip voters desert party with vote share down by ten per cent - but not all move to the Tories
- Growing fears that Mrs May will have to call a second election later this year