BORIS Johnson on Tuesday (10) faced claims of plagiarism after copying a spoof version of a scene from the hit Christmas film "Love Actually" as part of his election campaign.
The prime minister is seen in a social media clip taking the part of actor Andrew Lincoln, who turns up to profess his undying love for Keira Knightley by showing her flashcard.
One of the cards Johnson shows a householder in his "Vote Conservative Actually" clip says:
"With any luck, by next year we'll have Brexit done (if Parliament doesn't block it again).
"Your vote has never been more important, the other guy could win, so you have a choice to make between a working majority or another gridlocked hung parliament."
The clip was seen more than 1.5 million times since it was posted on Johnson's Twitter account on Monday (9), two days before Britain votes in its third election in four years.
However, Labour candidate Rosena Allin-Khan had already posted her version of the scene on November 22, as part of her re-election campaign.
"With any luck next year I'll be your MP," the candidate for Tooting in south London tells a man on the doorstep, as Christmas carols play on portable speakers.
"And our country won't be run by these muppets," she adds, showing another card with photographs of Johnson, members of his government and US President Donald Trump.
Allin-Khan called Johnson's version a "copycat" of her original clip.
A third online parody of the scene has Johnson as the householder answering the door to Trump, who tells him: "With any luck by next year you'll be selling off the NHS."
Actor Hugh Grant, who played a British prime minister in the 2003 romantic comedy and has been campaigning for the pro-EU Liberal Democrats, was asked about the parody on BBC radio.
"I thought it was quite well done, very high production values but clearly the Conservative party have an awful lot of money," he said.
"But I did notice that one of the cards from the original film that he didn't hold up was the one where Andrew Lincoln held up a card saying, 'Because at Christmas you tell the truth'.
"And I just wonder if the spin doctors in the Tory party thought that was a card that wouldn't look too great in Boris Johnson's hands."
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)