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Greg Evans
Apr 28, 2020
On Monday, Boris Johnson returned to his role as prime minister after making a full recovery from coronavirus and addressed the nation.
In all honesty, Johnson really didn't have much to say other than comparing the virus to a violent assailant and claimed that the lockdown had been 'successful.'
It was hardly the rousing speech that many would have expected on the leader of a nation but then again he has been ill so maybe we should let him off.
That being said some of Johnson's colleagues in the Tory party were clambering over each other to praise Johnson, who you think would have made the most remarkable return since Lazarus.
Welcome back, @BorisJohnson. As the PM @10DowningStreet said this morning, we will beat this virus by sticking tog… https://t.co/Q5x4tlJqPS— Robert Jenrick (@Robert Jenrick) 1587989351
Great to see the boss back and on top form— Matt Hancock (@Matt Hancock) 1587977010
Welcome back Boris 👏👏👏 Great to see the PM back where he belongs outside Downing Street. Terrific speech and terrif… https://t.co/g33cjVAh64— Andrew RT Davies (@Andrew RT Davies) 1587975634
Great to have you back PM👇 https://t.co/MQyReZKiQG— Liz Truss (@Liz Truss) 1587978457
Great to see the Prime Minister @BorisJohnson fully recovered and back at the helm. Under his leadership we will mo… https://t.co/iMxtVS0Rtb— John Glen MP (@John Glen MP) 1587980889
However, this praise was almost timid in comparison to Robert Halfon, the MP for Harlow in Essex, who compared the prime minister to a lion, in a simple but completely over the top tweet.
Good to see @BorisJohnson back at the helm! https://t.co/4aHbShoRCT— Robert Halfon MP ➡️ Working Hard for Harlow⬅️ (@Robert Halfon MP ➡️ Working Hard for Harlow⬅️) 1587993839
As you can imagine, Halfon, who we no doubt was tweeting with the best intentions, soon received a barrage of ridicule for this bold comparison.
@halfon4harlowMP @BorisJohnson Trying to fiddle the stats by making people cringe themselves to death before they c… https://t.co/OEU5Fjrp2V— James Felton (@James Felton) 1587997973
@halfon4harlowMP @BorisJohnson More like: https://t.co/T28RVcBPM7— Parody Boris Johnson (@Parody Boris Johnson) 1587999214
@halfon4harlowMP @mrjamesob @BorisJohnson The Lying King.— Gary Whitta (@Gary Whitta) 1587997455
OK it seems like an absurd analogy but don't forget that lion will have about 27 children by about five different f… https://t.co/45MLab92Gu— David Baddiel (@David Baddiel) 1587996983
You should be ashamed of posting this fawning, sycophantic, ludicrous image. Good Johnson is back at work but he's… https://t.co/1hi9mRa9e4— Jenni Russell (@Jenni Russell) 1587996761
This is bang on. Except the Boris Johnson is Carole Baskin and the British public are her husband. https://t.co/zyz9y53Hi7— Nooruddean (@Nooruddean) 1587997795
what's this Tory MP trying to say here: Boris Johnson is an animal driven by primitive instincts rather than reason… https://t.co/5o7rL4nGfG— Owen Jones 🌹 (@Owen Jones 🌹) 1588000775
That's not just any lion either. That is Mufasa from Disney's latest version of The Lion King, a character who (spoilers) is killed by his envious brother but reappears as a spirit in the clouds to guide his offspring.
Here's the trailer just to prove it.
More levels to this tweet than you thought, right?
In response, Halfon said:
It was fun meme to welcome back the PM who had a serious episode of the coronavirus.
There are better things to get so worked up about or even 'woked up' about. Titania McGrath would have a field day.
Perhaps the twitter trolls have a bout of cabin fever from the lockdown.
PS those who keep retweeting the lion from the Wizard of Oz, I suggest they read the book or watch the film. That lion becomes very brave.