As one of the leading members of the Brexit campaign, former London Mayor Boris Johnson was fully expected to bid for the vacant spot left when Prime Minister David Cameron resigned. Johnson has received much dubious credit for the campaign’s success, and now the U.K. sits in a shambolic state. So, one would expect the guy to stick around and pick up the pieces because there are no second chances. Instead, Johnson pulled a hall-of-fame worthy “psyche” and ducked out of the race at the last possible minute.
“That is the agenda for the next prime minister of this country,” Johnson said during a speech that initially sounded an awful lot like a campaign announcement. “Well, I must tell you, my friends, you who have waited faithfully for the punchline of this speech, that having consulted colleagues and in view of the circumstances in parliament, I have concluded that person cannot be me.”
The back-to-back “clean up this mess I made” stories of Cameron stepping down and Johnson bailing after he got the vote he wanted didn’t sit well with folks on Twitter. They whipped out ruthless derision — and in some cases just plain ruthlessness — to let Johnson know how they really felt about his change of heart.
First, you need to see this A+ tweet from Obi-Wan himself:
https://twitter.com/mcgregor_ewan/status/748477453631426560
The Borxit led to loads of angry tweets like that. But that’s not why you’re here. Let’s get to the funny moving pictures:
#BorisJohnson right now. pic.twitter.com/BivmnqgOrq
— Giannis Tolios (@derevirn) June 30, 2016
Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue. #BorisJohnson #Brexit pic.twitter.com/0rWjnBCp2M
— Max Davis (@maxwdavis) June 30, 2016
"Had you going there lads" #BorisJohnson pic.twitter.com/XWZCxDNvJs
— Woozle (@the_woozle) June 30, 2016
So, the man who risked the political, social and financial security of entire country has left the gambling table. pic.twitter.com/IuHaeHk2vo
— Essie Fox Author (@essiefox) June 30, 2016
When you help convince your country to leave the EU and realise there's no way to lead them through this mess #Boris pic.twitter.com/JHFYMohe4z
— Kris F (@Farrok1993) June 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/mattbpete/status/748474681313853440
https://twitter.com/mark_johnston/status/748471866898145280
Boris Johnson's week in review. pic.twitter.com/7I8PtAQN2r
— Ben Stanley (@BDStanley) June 30, 2016
The Simpsons proves time and time again that it’s perfect for explaining the Brexit:
https://twitter.com/PeterHoskinsTV/status/748470685035528192
Of course, there are other viable candidates for the vacancy. Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Home Secretary Theresa May are the front-runners for the position following Johnson’s exit. May notably fell on the “Remain” side of the Brexit vote, but still wishes to lead the Conservative party following the referendum.