Ambushed by Cake

Over the Christmas period, we’re republishing some of our lighter reading while the East Anglia Bylines editorial team take a much-deserved break. This article was first published in January 2022.

Yesterday evening, Conor Burns, Minister for Northern Ireland, was interviewed by Channel 4 News. He defended the latest allegation in the on-going PartyGate saga that as many as 30 people had celebrated the Prime Minister’s birthday in June 2020, with his wife, Carrie, supplying the cake. Burns’ defence was that Johnson had been working when people piled into his office to sing happy birthday. “He was,” Burns claimed with an entirely straight face, “in a sense, ambushed with a cake.”

Thus began what TV historian Greg Jenner described as “one of those glorious Twitter days” as the hashtag #AmbushedByCake began to trend. The best of this meme follows…

Say no more.#AmbushedByCake #ambushedwithacake pic.twitter.com/ngQaeHI2bv
— Mr Flea (@evilflea) January 25, 2022

News of the birthday party – with cake – broke early on Tuesday evening.

EXCLUSIVE: Boris Johnson had a birthday party during lockdown in June 2020 despite rules forbidding social gatherings indoors, ITV News has learnt.

Up to 30 staff celebrated in the cabinet room where Carrie Johnson surprised him with a cake, we're told.https://t.co/2IEwZpjHR7
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) January 24, 2022

An hour later, Channel 4 interviewed the hapless Conor Burns.

"He was ambushed with a cake."

A Conservative MP says that a birthday celebration held in Downing Street for Boris Johnson wasn't a "premeditated party".

Conor Burns tells @cathynewman that he supports Boris Johnson and that "the public will ultimately judge". pic.twitter.com/EGy0lcxXLA
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) January 25, 2022

Not long after, the mockery began with political journalist, Nick Robinson.

There is, as yet, no confirmation that Sue Gray or the Met have interviewed the cake which ambushed the Prime Minister. Here’s hoping we get answers in the morning.
— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) January 25, 2022

Nigella Lawson cooked up the perfect quip!

Ambushed by Cake: it just has to be the title of my next book! #AmbushedByCake
— Nigella Lawson (@Nigella_Lawson) January 25, 2022

As did football pundit Gary Lineker.

Never trust a cake. Ambushing bastards.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) January 25, 2022

Even Conservative MP for North Dorset, Simon Hoare, got in on the act.

Survived making my breakfast following a surprise encounter with a feisty French Fancy lying in wait with a tooled up sponge finger in the kitchen . We live in dangerous times people; dangerous times. Take care out there!
— Simon Hoare MP (@Simon4NDorset) January 26, 2022

Ryanair have been trolling Johnson for some time.

The Great British Fake Off #cakeambush #suegrayreport https://t.co/HSz0Vfo4YR pic.twitter.com/HBpoC2gMf1
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) January 25, 2022

Scientists for EU founder and media commentator Mike Galsworthy trolled Conor Burns this morning.

Watch out for the cake… https://t.co/zH4GS856V4
— Dr Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) January 25, 2022

There was plenty of wit…

Just been ambushed by 3 cakes, the bastards tied me up and stole my whipped cream! #AmbushedByCake
— Steve Bray on Mastodon @[email protected] (@snb19692) January 25, 2022

for his bravery in the face of the cake ambush the Prime Minister has been awarded the Victoria Sponge
— iucounu (@iucounu) January 25, 2022

Q. What’s the correct term for a suspected fruitcake ambushing a verified fruitcake with a literal fruitcake?#AmbushedByCake pic.twitter.com/LZHAHwQtYo
— James J Dart 🇺🇦 (@JamesJDart) January 25, 2022

Cartoons…

https://twitter.com/no_itsbollocks/status/1486108200483135488?s=21

Ambushed by a cake… #cakeambush #JohnsonOut pic.twitter.com/jmzX6JdaJD
— ✏️_Mistermunro (@mistermunroltd) January 26, 2022

Being #AmbushedByCake sounds like a dream come true! Words of wisdom from Mole….😘❤️🐾😂🎂 🍰 #charlesmackesy #ambushedwithacake #ambushedbyacake #ambushed pic.twitter.com/KGzEEFkok9
— Sealyham Eddie (+ Buffy) (@SealyhamEddie) January 25, 2022

Clever memes…

"He was in a sense, ambushed by cake"#AmbushedByCake pic.twitter.com/MaeUJUvoTK
— Male Political Haircuts 💈💇‍♂️ (@politicaltrims) January 25, 2022

#AmbushedByCake
*Based on a Soggy Bottom pic.twitter.com/uIWgqyXAfk
— Dave Stapleton (@dave660dave) January 25, 2022

Not now, Cakeo… pic.twitter.com/Y0alBCJjaH
— Dr Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) January 25, 2022

https://twitter.com/rapidunschedul1/status/1486076544938393606?s=21

pic.twitter.com/hXV4jYELON
— Sue Brand 🇺🇦🌈😷💉🧼💙she/her (@brand_Sue) January 25, 2022

Poor #Boris undone by Spotted Dick Turpin! #AmbushedByCake pic.twitter.com/99DwUBdG2i
— The Fourth Stooge (@CaptainMemeOh) January 25, 2022

Chris Morris was right pic.twitter.com/2IcXsOhLe0
— 𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕓𝕝𝕠𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 (@Yeah_ThatBloke) January 25, 2022

https://twitter.com/MusicAmun/status/1486266138879467525?s=20

Did I spend way too much time on this this morning? Yes. Yes, I did. #AmbushedByCake pic.twitter.com/YY8Mj0b6YR
— MaryAnn Johanson (she/her) (@maryannjohanson) January 26, 2022

Love the responses to my #AmbushedByCake military history puns – scroll down for lots of lovely wordplay 🤣 https://t.co/xGFtGNVEep
— Greg Jenner (@greg_jenner) January 25, 2022

Johnson isn't working

He's eating your share of the cake pic.twitter.com/Awx1okk2u2
— Trumpton (@Trump_ton) January 26, 2022

Nobody expects to be ambushed by cake@TVSanjeev @EricIdle pic.twitter.com/i8DMEmmMbi
— Fiona (Alpha Female) 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺 (@fiona_skywalker) January 26, 2022

Best seller.
The party is over.#AmbushedByCake #PartyGate #OneRuleForThem #ToriesDevoidOfShame exposed, #GrayReport. pic.twitter.com/vZS6lCe3rE
— Laure Om (@LaureOm) January 26, 2022

**BREAKING NEWS**
Leaked photos prove Boris Johnson was indeed ambushed by cake ( @DailyMirror )#BorisJohnsonResign #AmbushedByCake #Fuckoff pic.twitter.com/VOFsgaZzeQ
— hazzalad (@lfc_shirts) January 25, 2022

"Can you identify the individual that ambushed you, sir?"
(Image: Wales Online, inspired by @garius) pic.twitter.com/QPIaFYVnbt
— Michael Williams (@ptoboley) January 26, 2022

If I'd not seen it in films so much the "ambushed by a cake" thing would be ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/VQXZkxISqw
— Matthew Highton (@MattHighton) January 25, 2022

Some were even inspired to write poetry.

Today's poem: 'AMBUSHED BY A CAKE' https://t.co/YOtARYH4qQ #PMQs #ambushedbyacake pic.twitter.com/PCLlLUwP0W
— Joshua Seigal – 'YAPPING AWAY' out now! (@joshuaseigal) January 26, 2022

Ambushed by a cake 25/01/22 pic.twitter.com/6H9M2tpe3n
— Haikus For All (@HaikusForAlI) January 25, 2022

Ambushed by a cake! #Cakism pic.twitter.com/RmD9QJVwqa
— Baroness Risley #TakeBackBritain 🐟 🇺🇦 🎪 ✊3.5% (@RisleyJoanne) January 25, 2022

If what finally brings down Boris Johnson is a photo of him blowing out the candles on a Colin the Caterpillar I will never, ever stop laughing
— Emma Hughes (@emmahdhughes) January 24, 2022

🚨Exclusive🚨
Leaked pic from Sue Gray report shows moment Boris Johnson was 'ambushed' by cake… #SueGray #PartyGate #BorisJohnson pic.twitter.com/SLBHrMXXfc
— Andrew Greaves / @TourDeGreaves 🚴‍♂️ (@AndrewGreaves84) January 25, 2022