After a radio host and journalist tweeted to ask what British politicians should end their speeches with, Twitter’s imagination went wild.
Julia Hartley-Brewer made the observation that when US politicians end speeches they say “God Bless America”, while French politicians often end with “Long live the Republic, long live France”.
So, she asked what the British equivalent is, and a real diverse range of suggestions came flooding in, from the very well-mannered…
@JuliaHB1 "Mind how you go."
— Simon Blackwell (@simonblackwell) April 23, 2017
@JuliaHB1 "Could you put the chairs away and switch out the lights, please?"
— Mark Sparrow (@Markgsparrow) April 23, 2017
…to the more outlandish and hilarious.
@JuliaHB1 the Hokey-Cokey, I think
— Roger Moorhouse (@Roger_Moorhouse) April 23, 2017
"Who let the dogs out? WHO, WHO, WHO, WHO, WHO?" https://t.co/afdpedadeI
— David Whitley (@mrdavidwhitley) April 24, 2017
"Unexpected item in the bagging area" https://t.co/Iyz4PUPHui
— Gavin Whenman (@GavinWhenman) April 23, 2017
Then there were suggestions that were so typically British it hurts.
@JuliaHB1 "Sorry."
— John Kneeland (@SirKneeland) April 23, 2017
@SirKneeland @JuliaHB1 Don't Brits usually start conversations with "sorry"? Can't use it twice in one sentence
— Mo (@HollingsheadMo) April 23, 2017
@HollingsheadMo @JuliaHB1 Maybe they end it with "Right," as they do with ending any other social engagement
— John Kneeland (@SirKneeland) April 23, 2017
@JuliaHB1 "Right – must crack on."
— Jamie Vaide (@JamieVaide) April 23, 2017
Obviously, tea got a mention too.
@GavinWhenman @JuliaHB1 "tea and biscuits are now being served at the back"
— David Fisher (@worldnoteurope) April 23, 2017
As did the great British institution that is EastEnders.
@JuliaHB1 Isn't it the #Eastenders drums. ?
— Matt Wilkins (@mattwilkinsdj) April 23, 2017
@JuliaHB1 "Get outta ma pub!" pic.twitter.com/PoeIzQQPfo
— Daniel Jackson (@Danoogie) April 23, 2017
Well played, Twitter. Well played.