'Is she trying to channel Thatcher?' Penny Mordaunt's hair gets the meme treatment as BBC election debate viewers compare her to the former Prime Minister

Social media users have given Penny Mordaunt's hair the meme treatment following the BBC election debate with viewers comparing her to Margaret Thatcher.

Voters took to Twitter to draw comparisons between her bob-cut hair and the distinctive hairstyle of the legendary Conservative leader.

Others joked that the Tory Cabinet Minister's bob-cut hair appeared inauthentically large and unmoving. 

While some of the tech-savvy debate watchers used their photoshop skills to edit the Leader of the House of Common's hair to become comically large.

However some social media users argued Ms Mordaunt's hairstyle choice was a deliberate attempt to appear more like ex-Tory leader Margaret Thatcher.  

Columnist Ian Dunt wrote on Twitter/X: 'She looks like she's purposefully done a Thatcher to her hair.'

A journalism professor Eamonn O'Neill commented: 'Margaret Thatcher called and would like her hair back. #pennymourdant.'

Commentator Darren Grimes posted: 'Penny’s hair is very 1970s Lady Thatcher!'. 

Meanwhile other social media users used their photoshop skills to create hilarious memes about the Tory MP's bold hairstyle in tonight's debate.

While others drew comparisons to bizarre hairstyles from film and TV. 

One social media user wrote: 'Penny Mordaunt is frightening, it's growing as I watch. I'm not going to sleep tonight.' 

One Twitter user posted: 'Let's be honest the only part of Penny Mordaunt that is 'standing up and fighting' is her bloody hair.'

Another said: 'Can’t bear Penny Mordor but her Raine Spencer coiffure is pretty epic.'

While another posted a meme from 1987 Star Wars spoof Spaceballs with star Rick Moranis in his comically oversized helmet, with the comment: 'Penny Mordaunt slightly overdoing the hairspray tonight.'

During the debate Ms Mordaunt repeatedly locked horns with her main political rival, and neighbour on the stage Angela Rayner.

The two women clashed over the Conservatives' controversial claim that a Labour government would add £2,000 to a family's annual tax bill.

Ms Rayner, who was dressed in Labour Party red, slammed her Tory counterpart, saying the claims were 'lies' as Ms Mordaunt ploughed on, before they had to be stopped by presenter Mishal Husain.

But despite the fierce exchanges throughout the debate, Ms Rayner Ms Mordaunt shook hands at the end. 

Elsewhere in the debate Nigel Farage was filmed appearing to stretch his knees to warm up. 

Meanwhile social media users also took the opportunity labelled the BBC general election debate the 'worst episode of the Weakest Link ever'. 

Voters took to Twitter to joke that the BBC's studio in London left all seven political leaders standing next to plinths which bear eerily similarities to the hit BBC quiz show.

The showbiz setting is the backdrop for the broadcaster's flagship political debate which has seen Tory Penny Mordaunt, Labour's deputy Angela Rayner and Reform leader Nigel Farage debate leading figures from the Liberal Democrats, SNP, Green Party and Plaid Cymru.

It is the first multi-party debate comes less than a month before voters go to the polls on July 4. 

BBC journalist Mishal Husain has been moderating the debate and has been seen as playing the role of feisty Weakest Link host Anne Robinson.

The lights and backdrop surrounding the contestants also appeared to give the debate a quiz show feel. 

One social media user commented 'Conservatives, you are the Weakest Link goodbye'.

Another wrote: 'So who is the weakest link?'.

While another said: 'This episode of the weakest link is just awful.' 

Another commented: 'Is this the weakest link's new studio?'

Meanwhile another said: 'Not sure about this reboot of The Weakest Link.' 

The Weakest Link ran from 2000 to 2011 with its host Anne Robinson, before it was rebooted starring Romesh Ranganathan in 2022.

The original format features nine contestants, who take turns answering general knowledge questions. Each round a contestant would be voted off, with the iconic last line delivered by the host as 'You are the Weakest Link goodbye'.

Earlier this week, viewing figures showed millions of Britons snubbed Tuesday night's first showdown between the PM and Sir Keir on primetime ITV.

The programme was watched by an average of just 4.8million viewers, with a peak of 5.2million viewers.

This was down from the average audience of 6.7million for the ITV debate between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn during the 2019 general election.

A YouGov snap poll revealed nearly two-thirds who did watch the clash between Mr Sunak and Sir Keir branded it 'frustrating'.

The debate saw both party leaders repeatedly speak over each other during tetchy exchanges, as ITV host Julie Etchingham struggled to rein them in.