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Sinead Butler
Jun 10, 2021
Johnson modelling his new black bomber with his job role and Virgin logo
YouTube/10 Downing Street
Boris Johnson has been ridiculed on social media for sporting a Presidential-style bomber jacket that has the words “PRIME MINISTER” embroidered into it.
The black bomber also includes the Virgin logo, which has led people to question online if Johnson was being “sponsored by Virgin.”
In a video posted across 10 Downing Street’s social media platforms, the prime minister was at Newquay Airport, Cornwall, yesterday.
As the world builds back better from coronavirus, Cornwall will lead the way. #G7UK #G7Cornwall #BuildBackBetter… https://t.co/oYuACOnEfj— Boris Johnson (@Boris Johnson) 1623270776
He was given a tour of Virgin’s LauncherOne, at the Spaceport alongside Transport secretary, Grant Shapps.
The UK Space Agency investing £7.8m into the development of Spaceport Cornwall and it is hoped that the Virgin Orbit LauncherOne will send UK payloads and satellites up into space.
It appears that the fellow cabinet members must have rung ahead to coordinate their outfits.
Since Shapps turned up appearing very much on-brand, wearing a similar bomber jacket - with the embroidered words “TRANSPORT SECRETARY.”
You know, just in case they forgot what they’re doing there.
We're pleased to announce a joint UK/US Taskforce to help facilitate the reopening of transatlantic travel… https://t.co/wZc17aH79x— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP) 1623274780
Of course, people on Twitter were questioning the inclusion of the Virgin Media logo on their jackets - and making jokes at the pair’s expense while they were at it.
The Prime Minister 'sponsored by Virgin'? WTAF? https://t.co/de67r0T3DP— GET A GRIP (@GET A GRIP) 1623277584
@MimiJ9 @cirian75 Boris Johnson wearing a label saying 'Virgin' is enough to make anyone laugh.— Three Women (@Three Women) 1623327711
@MimiJ9 That is the "Virgin" logo, isn't it? Is there something we don't know about Johnson's employers?— Glynis Ingram💙💙#FreeNazanin (@Glynis Ingram💙💙#FreeNazanin) 1623328869
Does this mean that Virgin now sponsors the Cabinet? 🧐🤔🤯 https://t.co/4ie2rYiemT— Anne 🏴🏳️🌈 (she/her) (@Anne 🏴🏳️🌈 (she/her)) 1623328899
Of all the things I might have seen today, a photo of Boris Bloody Johnson, with "Virgin" on his scruffy lapel was… https://t.co/mogtdgZerC— NickStevens Graphics (@NickStevens Graphics) 1623271461
Meanwhile, other people were mocking Johnson’s and Schapp’s matching government merchandise.
“Yeah, eight quid mate. Ten if you want your car mats hoovered too.” https://t.co/rDBtkgpZgP— Matt Silver (@Matt Silver) 1623310781
It’s spreading https://t.co/w2j4ZclSlP— John Stevens (@John Stevens) 1623308089
@grantshapps @BorisJohnson @POTUS Mary and Joseph, what do you two look like in those jackets?? It's embarrassing, honestly— Ben Waite (@Ben Waite) 1623275127
@grantshapps @Conservatives @BorisJohnson @POTUS So you and Johnson have jackets with your job titles on them - what, just to remind you?— Joolz (@Joolz) 1623312278
Oh no https://t.co/e7hEVBdppT— Rob Powell (@Rob Powell) 1623309285
Some were not impressed with the pair’s attempts to live out their Top Gun fantasy with their embroidered jackets.
Top Gun 2 looks shit. https://t.co/gyvxgy7vPh— Jenni Willows (@Jenni Willows) 1623326533
New film 🎥… Top Chum https://t.co/PdXBmxGBJp— jus 💙 (@jus 💙) 1623328743
Looks like a really shit sequel to Top Gun https://t.co/POqTckBbkx— Jen (@Jen) 1623323754
Though, Johnson and Schapps aren’t the first members of government to wear their own “branded” merchandise.
Home Secretary Priti Patel was ahead of the trend after she was photographed wearing a coat, sporting “HOME SECRETARY” sewn into it earlier this year.
She branded the coat at a raid on people-smuggling suspect sat an address in east London last month.
But despite Patel bucking the trend on this side of the pond, it’s the US president’s that traditionally wear a personalised US Navy flight jacket.
Every president is given one in their new job role, with the title “Commander-in-Chief’ embroidered on the garment.
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