"Brexit, actually": Boris Johnson scores with parody election ads
Shortly before the general election in the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Boris Johnson surprised everyone with an ad inspired by the romantic comedy *Love Actually*. One might almost be impressed—except that, unfortunately, the idea was stolen.
In the post, which circulated furiously via the short messaging service Twitter, Johnson reenacts a key scene: A man confesses his love to a friend's wife with messages on cardboard signs. The film, known in German-speaking countries as "Tatsächlich ... Liebe," was released in 2003.
Johnson makes the scene his own: In the feature, he rings a woman's doorbell at Christmastime and, using messages on signs, asks her to vote for his Conservative Party ("Vote Conservative actually").
One of the signs reads, in reference to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, "The other guy could win." The post, with its Christmas flair, reference to the movie, and a dig at Hugh Grant, who plays the prime minister in the original film, drew much praise in the UK.
Grant is one of Johnson's fiercest critics and supports candidates from opposition parties. He goes door-to-door with them to encourage Britons to vote tactically.
In addition, Grant also had something small to say about Johnson's Love Actually parody:
The Conservatives are still ahead in the polls. But Johnson cannot be sure of victory because of the majority voting system in Great Britain.
Indeed... stolen
Shortly after Johnson tweeted his post, Labour candidate Rosena Allin-Khan spoke out and accused Johnson of stealing her idea for the election ad. She, too, had imitated the key scene of the love story - but used it to campaign for Labour. Her contribution was already published on November 22.
The British elect their new parliament this Thursday. Johnson currently leads a minority government and wants to secure more support for his Brexit agreement with the new election. (SDA/swi)
