Best General Election Gaffes

The general election campaign is in full swing, with party leaders travelling across the country to announce policies and speak to voters.

Over the past two weeks, there has been no shortage of gaffes and blunders, particularly from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

It has left Baroness Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish Conservative leader, wondering whether a mole had been planted inside the Tories communications team to sabotage Mr Sunak.

From being soaked outside Number 10 as he called the snap election without an umbrella to being asked if he was captaining a “sinking ship” when he visited Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, the PM’s campaign has been far from ideal.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has also had his fair share of blunders. He has been spotted falling off a paddleboard, riding a waterslide in a rubber ring and skidding down a hill on a bike—all as part of his campaign trail.

With 30 days until voters head to the polls, party communications teams will be hoping to avoid any more slip-ups.

The Independent has put together the best gaffes and blunders from the election campaign below.Best General Election Gaffes: Sunak’s Titanic, Photobombs, and Upside Down Flags

The campaign hadn’t even begun when the prime minister made his first mistake—swapping the £2.6 million Downing Street press briefing room for the Great British Outdoors.

Heavy rain poured down on the prime minister, who spoke from a lectern outside No. 10 without an umbrella.

Labour’s 1997 theme, Things Can Only Get Better by D:Ream, was blasted by a speaker, drowning out Mr. Sunak’s attempts to boast of his inflationary achievements.

Mr Sunak, wearing a suit with a light blue tie, became increasingly soaked during the speech.

A few days later, the PM admitted he “was a bit wet” during the announcement.Best General Election Gaffes: Sunak’s Titanic, Photobombs, and Upside Down Flags

One day into the election trail, Mr. Sunak asked staff at a brewery in Barry, South Wales, if they were looking forward to this summer’s football, despite the national team not qualifying for the Euros.

But one of the pub workers was quick to correct him on his mishap, following Wales’s play-off final defeat to Poland in March.

He interjected and said, “Only if you support England!” to which Mr. Sunak awkwardly replied that the hospitality industry was one the Conservatives supported.

The prime minister faced another blunder when asked by a reporter whether he was captaining a “sinking ship” during a visit to Northern Ireland’s Titanic Quarter.

The unfortunate question was asked when Mr. Sunak visited Artemis Technologies, a local company that manufactures zero-emission maritime technology, with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris.

“Are you captaining a sinking ship going into this election?” the reporter asked.

To which an irked Sunak replied: “If you look at what’s happened over the past few weeks, you can see our plan is working.”

Mr Heaton-Harris, who was standing right next to the PM, could be seen struggling to contain his grin.Best General Election Gaffes: Sunak’s Titanic, Photobombs, and Upside Down Flags

In one of the first Q&A events at a distribution centre in Derbyshire, the PM took questions from supposedly random workers.

Speaking to around 50 people, he was asked about his flagship plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

He was told that the “biggest issue is going to be immigration over this election campaign” before he was asked whether “your Rwanda plan is going to see results and stop the small boats coming?”

Broadcasters showed the Prime Minister thanking the man for his “important question.”

It later emerged that the question had come from Conservative Leicestershire County Councillor Ross Hills.Best General Election Gaffes: Sunak’s Titanic, Photobombs, and Upside Down Flags

Mr. Sunak was traveling to a campaign event on a flight. Two days into the election campaign, he experienced an unfortunate blunder. As he was boarding the plane, he was photographed standing underneath an exit sign.

The Labour Party turned Mr. Sunak’s mocking attempt into a viral post. The post looks like Mr. Sunak is endorsing the Labour Party.

The Tories’ latest post on TikTok shows the prime minister explaining “Labour’s policy for our country’s future” on a flipchart.

In the short video, he first turns over the cover to reveal a blank page. Then, he caps a pen in his hand and sets it down. Finally, he walks off camera.

Butcher’s social media team responded to the video. They edited it to show Sir Keir Starmer’s “first steps for change” on a flipchart.

The Labour Party post has now received over 2.4 million views on X and a further 308,000 on TikTok.

In the Conservative Party’s first election broadcast, the Union Jack depicted flying upside down.

The prime minister’s video highlighted uncertain times.It mentioned pandemics and wars in Europe. It also mentioned war in the Middle East. A reckless dictator in Russia was another contributing factor. China was also cited as a contributing factor.

“We face unprecedented challenges here at home because of global insecurity, but by sticking with the plan, Rishi Sunak is steadying the ship and making progress,” a deep-voiced narrator says over footage of the PM working.Best General Election Gaffes: Sunak’s Titanic, Photobombs, and Upside Down Flags

Minutes after the video was released, the UK’s flag was noticed in an upside-down position. This became the most striking part.

The prime minister spoke to rowers in Oxfordshire on Monday. Later that day, Liberal Democrats campaigners photobombed the prime minister on a boat.

While the prime minister was visiting a riverside rowing club, Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper passed by on the water, holding orange diamond-shaped voting placards. A group of activists accompanied her. Campaigners could be seen waving at the PM from the water.

A Lib Dem source told the media: “This is a small boat issue that Rishi Sunak cannot handle.”

During a live interview, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps hung up the phone. He was asked about the possibility of losing his seat in the upcoming general election.

A YouGov survey suggested the defence secretary could be voted out of parliament along with many of his Conservative colleagues.

While presenting the polls’ results on Sky News on Monday, deputy political editor Sam Coates spotted Shapps calling him.

The camera kept rolling as Coates answered and said: “Hello Grant Shapps, you’re live on Sky News.

“I’m in the studio with Sophy Ridge. Have you seen you’re about to lose your seat, according to the Sky News-YouGov projection?”

There was a moment’s silence before the phone emitted a few beeps, meaning Shapps was no longer there.

Sir Ed Davey took a dive into Lake Windermere while paddleboarding. He outlined his party’s plan to tackle the sewage crisis at the event.

Local Lib Dem candidate Tim Farron joined his party leader at Lowwood Bay Watersports Centre. The pair had mixed success after being pictured taking multiple plunges.

During his visit to the Lake District, local environmental experts should be represented on water companies’ boards. This is necessary to ensure sewage spills are taken seriously. Sir Ed accused Conservative ministers of not taking action. They are instead “sitting on their hands.”Best General Election Gaffes: Sunak’s Titanic, Photobombs, and Upside Down Flags

On Thursday, May 30, the Lib Dem leader rode a rubber ring down a waterslide. The party campaigned on children’s mental health that day.

He wore swimming shorts for the Ultimate Slip-n-Slide attraction. He wore a T-shirt for the attraction near From, Somerset.

Defending the stunt, Sir Ed said, “Politicians need to take the concerns and interests of voters seriously.” He continued, “But I’m not sure they need to take themselves seriously all the time. I’m quite happy to have some fun.”

Sir Ed visited From and East Somerset for two reasons. First, he went there to support his party’s candidate, Anna Sabine. Second, he wanted to highlight their commitment to enhancing mental health support for young people.

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