Derbyshire flooding: Boris Johnson mocked for attempt to mop floodwater after declaring it ‘not a national emergency’ “Someone has misunderstood the suggestion ‘let’s use Boris Johnson as a mop’”

Boris Johnson’s failed attempts to mop up a flooded business in Derbyshire have been mocked online with the clip recorded on Friday evening going viral over the weekend.

The Prime Minister visited Matlock in Derbyshire after the area faced significant flooding following heavy rain that caused one death and many evacuations.

But in what appears to be an optician shop doorway, the optics were off as his attempts to mop up for a photo opp left many asking how frequently the Tory politician mops in his own house.

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The video, shared by Sky News, also sparked a number of jokes at his expense as the clip was shared from a number of different accounts.

Someone has misunderstood the suggestion ‘let’s use Boris Johnson as a mop’ https://t.co/vQyu3b1Ok7 — Sandy Poole (@MrSandy_P) November 11, 2019

I think that image of @BorisJohnson trying to rid a county of a biblical sized flood with a floor mop is a perfect metaphor for his handling of Brexit. — Rhoda Miller (@RhodaMiller14) November 11, 2019

A man who is unable to mop a floor is definitely unable to run the country @BorisJohnson @10DowningStreet — Phil Jones ?❤️ (@Phil_Jones01) November 11, 2019

The PM said during the trip that while the Government was on hand to help the flooding was “not looking like something we need to escalate to the level of a national emergency”.

He said: “We’ve got a huge programme of flood defences and flood preparation. There’s £2.6 billion going into it and I think £50 million has gone into Derbyshire alone.

“But in the end, you’ve got to face the reality that places like this are vulnerable to flooding – we’re going to see more of it.”

Mr Johnson later said: “On Friday, I visited Matlock in Derbyshire, where the flooding has caused devastation to people’s homes and livelihoods.

“I’m in awe of the community’s spirit and resilience in the face of this awful ongoing event.

“It is the same spirit seen in the affected areas across Yorkshire and the Midlands this past week.

“It is the stories of volunteers, of neighbours and of friends often literally carrying each other through this time that I have found immensely uplifting.”

More rain on the way

A yellow warning for rain has been issued across parts of England on Thursday There is a low chance of rain during this period but this amount of rain could cause a higher impact than is usual due to the rain that has already fallen Stay up date with the latest #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/cKB0lBPfRC — Met Office (@metoffice) November 10, 2019

The Met Office said on Sunday that more rain is expected to hit the UK overnight and it has issued yellow weather warnings for heavy rain on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

All cover the South Yorkshire area and the crucial catchment area of the River Don, which remains high along its length.

The warnings cover the same areas that are still dealing with the aftermath from Thursday and Friday’s downpours stretching from Yorkshire to Derbyshire and the East Midlands.

Several areas were deluged with one month’s worth of rain in a day, and a woman died after being swept up in floodwaters.

‘Danger to life’

The body of Annie Hall, the former High Sheriff of Derbyshire, was found in the River Derwent on Friday morning after she was engulfed by floodwater in Darley Dale, near Matlock.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn met flooded residents in Conisborough, South Yorkshire, on Saturday.

On Sunday evening the number of “danger to life” severe flood warnings was reduced from seven to five. All are along the River Don in Yorkshire.

There were also 43 active flood warnings and 103 flood alerts.

Additional reporting by Press Association.