11 Times British Politics Went Full 'The Thick Of It' In 2016

'I'll be with you in two shakes of a crying baby.'
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Now silly season is over and British politics slowly grinds back into motion after the summer recess, it’s easy to forget that just two months ago Westminster looked a little something like this...

The EU referendum and everything that led up to it provided a multitude of moments worthy of being included in a hilarious satirical political comedy.

Only they were real which was terrifying.

Then, after the chaos of a new prime minister and the fallout from the vote Labour kindly stepped up to provide much cringeworthy entertainment in what would have been a rather dull summer recess.

Inevitably this has led some to ask...

Important question: what's your favourite Thick Of It-esque moment in politics this year?

— Sophie Warnes (@SophieWarnes) August 31, 2016

Here’s a round up of the best 11 moments

1) When Tom Watson had to cut his Glastonbury trip short because Labour was imploding.

Tom Watson, Labour's Deputy leader, returns to London following a night at Glastonbury. pic.twitter.com/s1gDmzA156

— Laura Hughes (@Laura_K_Hughes) June 26, 2016

In the aftermath of the EU referendum vote, Jeremy Corbyn’s MPs began to jump ship in droves.

Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, had been enjoying a lovely can of scrumpy up to his ankles in Glastonbury mud when it all kicked off forcing him to make a hasty exit.

TOM WATSON

After a heavy night of partying at Glastonbury, Tom Watson awakes from a drunken haze to find the words 500 missed calls on his phone.

— Sophie Osborn (@sophielosborn) June 26, 2016

2) When Jeremy Corbyn couldn’t open a door.

Pursued by a Sky News reporter asking some awkward questions about anti-semitism in the Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn tried to make a hasty exit by entering a nearby building.

Cue awkward number-punching and buzzer ringing as he failed to gain entry.

3) When Boris Johnson and Michael Gove gave a doom-laden Brexit victory speech.

Just look at BoJo’s little face.

Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Boris Johnson is not having a good day. May's speech was brilliant. Gove isn't backing him. He's not going to win.

— Cal Davie (@CalDaviePTS) June 30, 2016

With May's speech and Gove waving his willy, Boris is finished. I feel a hint of the first smile on my lips for a week. #stillfuckedthough

— Geraint Todd (@GeraintTodd) June 30, 2016

Obviously hindsight is a glorious thing and BoJo was all smiles again when he was - to the surprise of the nation - named as foreign secretary.

4) The time people thought Zac Goldsmith was the Croydon Cat Killer.

Back in April an incredibly sick and twisted individual was reportedly roaming the streets of Croydon and killing cats in cold blood.

About 50 pets were believed to have been killed and dismembered across London, with the RSPCA confirming 20 have “undoubtedly” been slaughtered by a human.

And the main suspect? Well according to Twitter it was none other than Zac Goldsmith.

#ThursdayThoughts Think about it. Zac Goldsmith has never denied being the Croydon Cat Killer... #croydoncatkiller pic.twitter.com/jriSEQ1rm4

— Zoya Madar (@BloodBathPanda) April 28, 2016

We’re fairly sure Twitter is mistaken but that didn’t stop people speculating anyway.

I know we've joked about Zac Goldsmith being the Croydon Cat Killer but I THINK I'VE FOUND HIS MOTIVE pic.twitter.com/8hpS6ptu9D

— Alex (Who Is A Cat) (@Judoon_Platoon) April 19, 2016

5) #TrainGate

Earlier this month Jeremy Corbyn caught a train.

Corbyn couldn’t get a seat because it was “ram-packed”.

Corbyn’s team filmed the incident as an example of the case for re-nationalising the railways.

Things weren’t quite as they seemed though and there were actually seats available.

Cue the scandal of the century: #TRAINGATE!!!

Jeremy Corbyns train arrives at Kings Cross for the press conference.... #TrainGate pic.twitter.com/1uS1QrLLnx

— Bob Bedford (@WowbaggerSeven) August 23, 2016

It wasn't "ram packed". It was "full of bull". #Traingate pic.twitter.com/X2isZNWb9O

— Dan D. Lyons (@newsfondue) August 23, 2016

Oh Jeremy.

And while we’re talking about Mr Corbyn...

6) When Jeremy Corbyn launched his vision for the internet and failed at using the internet.

Corbyn took to a London stage on Tuesday to extoll his vision for the future of the internet.

Not that you would have known however as a series of ironic glitches and blunders meant a lot of people couldn’t watch it online.

Corbyn's digital policy launch: Online feed failed, no emailed copy of said digital policy, not available online.

— Kate McCann (@KateEMcCann) August 30, 2016

Firstly, the Facebook Live feed of the#DigitalDemocracy manifesto didn’t seem to be working.

Ironically can't watch Corbyn's 'digital democracy' launch as the Facebook livefeed isn't working. pic.twitter.com/asXTYClOuV

— Marie Le Conte (@youngvulgarian) August 30, 2016

And there was further embarrassment as a graphic used repeatedly on the Labour leader’s Twitter feed showed an incorrect URL.

Join us live at 10.45am for our #DigitalDemocracy manifesto launch → https://t.co/jDsiVaK1Wb pic.twitter.com/8xEWmcmoYj

— Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) August 30, 2016

Oh dear.

7) When Angela Eagle announced her Labour leadership bid but all the journalists were at something more interesting.

Angela Eagle was abandoned by members of the press as her formal Labour leadership challenge announcement in July clashed with Andrea Leadsom’s departure from the Tory leadership race.

On a level of 1 to cringe it was total cringe.

Meanwhile over at Angela Eagle's #LabourLeadership launch... pic.twitter.com/FCRuNyUh0J

— Conor McNally (@conor_mcnally) July 11, 2016

8) Angela Eagle’s face when she heard Boris Johnson had been made foreign secretary.

This one speaks for itself.

Angela Eagle finding out Boris is Foreign Secretary is sensational. Everyone is fed up. pic.twitter.com/DmmGbQlgzP

— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) July 14, 2016

9) When Ken Livingstone did this...

Ken Livingstone escaping questions over whether he agrees with Hitler by running into a disabled toilet, there. pic.twitter.com/J4BaEEOmBf

— Jim Waterson (@jimwaterson) April 28, 2016

The former Mayor of London was branded a Nazi apologist by MPs from his own party on a day that surpassed surreal.

Clash between John Mann and Ken Livingstone pic.twitter.com/WMoSonca3t

— Vicki Young (@BBCVickiYoung) April 28, 2016

And did he stop mentioning Hitler? Did he hell...

10) The time Sir Bob Geldof thought he spoke for the common man by calling Nigel Farage a wanker whilst sailing down the Thames.

Of all the events around EU referendum, the Brexit Armada was probably the most surreal.

After the Ukip leader led a flotilla of fishing boats up the river towards Parliament this afternoon to protest against EU fishing policies, Geldof steered a counter measure against the flotilla, and from his own boat heckled the Ukip leader through a loud speaker system.

A boat carrying supporters for the Remain in the EU campaign including Sir Bob Geldof (C) shout and wave at Brexit fishing boats as they sail up the river Thames.
A boat carrying supporters for the Remain in the EU campaign including Sir Bob Geldof (C) shout and wave at Brexit fishing boats as they sail up the river Thames.
Getty

On a boat with Bob Geldof and its awful. I may vote remain, but don't support jeering at fisherman worried about their livelihoods.

— Bethany Pickering (@blp_1995) June 15, 2016

As someone who was on Bob Geldof's boat, and left with others in protest, I can tell you it is everything wrong with strongerin #thames

— Bethany Pickering (@blp_1995) June 15, 2016

11) And the most ‘Thick Of It’ moment of all...

Sky News

Sorry Labour but it’s Jeremy again.

Perhaps it’s the pained look on Corbyn’s face?

Or maybe it’s the sheer panic on Tom Watson’s eyes?

Or it could just simply be the fact Corbyn’s aide is called Seamus, but whatever it is, this aborted meeting after the Labour leader invited the TV cameras in to his new-look top team in June was incredible...

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