The 15 Most WTF Moments Of The EU Referendum Campaign

It's been quite a ride.

1. When Leave and Remain had a real-life battle on the River Thames, and Sir Bob Geldof was there and everything.

Kaya Burgess @kayaburgess

UPDATED WITH THEME TUNE: The state of British politics summed up in a clip of a flotilla face-off

10:10 AM - 15 Jun 2016

No seriously, this really happened. It all started when a flotilla of anti-EU craft, helmed by Nigel Farage, gathered at sea and steamed up the Thames. Obviously the pro-EU lot sent their own boat, skippered by ex-Boomtown Rats singer Geldof, to meet them. Water fights ensued.

2. When an anti-EU campaign announced a pop concert but acts kept dropping out when they found out it was anti-EU. :(

Suzan / Suzan/EMPICS Entertainment

Bpoplive, organised by unofficial Brexit camp Leave.EU, was originally due to take place at the 15,000-capacity Genting Arena in Birmingham. But sadly it all fell through when bands learned it was a political event. First it was drum 'n' bass act Sigma, then Alesha Dixon and boy band 5ive. Is nothing sacred?!

3. The moment Boris Johnson decided to auction off a cow.

Stefan Rousseau / PA

We're not really sure *why* he auctioned off a cow while on the anti-EU campaign trail in Clitheroe, Lancashire, but he did. He struggled a bit with describing the beast – "beautiful Ribble Valley-reared, what is she, beautiful milker, beautiful cow..." – but it ended up going for £960, so well played.

4. When Victoria Beckham had a massive go at the unofficial Leave campaign.

Twitter

Well, we didn’t see this coming – a proper showdown between Posh Spice and Leave.EU. She accused them of “misusing” her 20-year-old comments to suggest she wanted Britain to leave the EU. In fact, she said on Instagram, she would be voting Remain along with her hubby, David.

5. That time the pro-EU campaign urged young people to talk to their gran and get “votin”.

Britain Stronger in Europe

Sheesh, what was it with this referendum and ham-fisted attempts to get down with the kids? First we had Britain Stronger in Europe telling us to “Talk to Gran” – maybe over a nice cup of tea and some Battenburg – then they started inexplicably dropping the letter G at the end of words because that’s definitely cool.

6. When Boris Johnson (yes, him again) claimed the EU wouldn't let you sell bananas in bunches of more than three.

md-health.com / PA

These were his actual words to a rally of Vote Leave supporters in Staffordshire: "It is absurd that we are told that you cannot sell bananas in bunches of more than two or three bananas.” BuzzFeed News fact-checked this claim and obviously found it to be complete nonsense. A source close to Johnson later said he "misspoke".

7. When a UKIP candidate turned Pink's "Get the Party Started" into a pro-Brexit anthem.

Mandy Boylett

Great tune, this. Until the lyrics get changed to "Casting off the red tape and reclaiming our fish / Still buy Belgian chocolates cos they're really delish."

8. When Michael Gove said voters had just had enough of experts.

Isabel Infantes / Empics Entertainment

The anti-EU justice secretary airily dismissed the economists, scientists, and professors warning against Brexit, declaring that “people in this country have had enough of experts”. Yeah: boo, experts! Coming over here, having informed opinions about things that matter.

9. That time Jeremy Corbyn had a deep conversation with Joey Essex about the EU.

Twitter

Of course this happened. And of course it was all documented on the Labour leader’s Snapchat.

10. When the singer from the 1975 got really angry at David Cameron.

Slaven Vlasic / Getty Images

Matt Healy was furious about the graphics used to encourage people to register to vote. He reckoned the neon lettering was too similar to his band's new album cover. But, erm, it turned out it was the Electoral Commission that created the imagery, not the prime minister. Let’s all move on.

11. When Boris Johnson carved the figure £350,000,000 into a wall of steel and looked a lot like Batman villain Bane.

Ben Birchall / PA

Apparently, according to Vote Leave, this is how much Britain sends to the EU every week (although that is highly disputed). But *why* carve it into steel?

12. When John Barnes went on live TV to contradict Michael Gove and say he was actually for Remain.

Sky News

Footballing legend Barnes was so incensed by Gove’s claim that he was pro-Leave that he called up Sky News from South Africa and demanded they interview him to put the record straight.

And Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron obviously then responded by performing Barnes' famous rap from "World in Motion":

Tim Farron @timfarron

A tribute to John Barnes from Team #INtogether. @officialbarnesy #VoteRemain #EUref #Strongerin https://t.co/kdUfHGJ5lJ

Wed Jun 22 14:30:51 UTC+0000 2016

13. That time David Cameron had some proper banter with his old mates Neil Kinnock and Paddy Ashdown.

PA

At least Paddy will always laugh at your jokes, prime minister.

14. The moment Boris Johnson (sorry!) started singing in German.

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He was supposed to be giving a very serious speech about the perils of Britain staying in the EU. But he couldn’t resist singing a few bars of "Ode to Joy”.

15. When David Cameron was told he'd "fucked every fucking thing up in this country".

youtube.com

Yasmin, a Remain voter, didn't hold back at BuzzFeed's live Facebook town hall event. The PM was rather taken aback.