John Cleese slammed after deeming General Election vote ‘utterly worthless’ - before counting suspended in his constituency

John Cleese’s claim that voting in the General Election is “utterly worthless” has come back to haunt him after counting was suspended without a result in his local constituency.

The comedian, 77, was caught up in a Twitter storm after he told his followers ahead of polling day that he would not vote in Kensington.

“People are asking me how I shall vote. I shan't,” he tweeted days before the election.

“I live in Chelsea and Kensington, so under our present system my vote is utterly worthless.”

But he was deemed “totally irresponsible” and warned “never” to discourage voting after council tellers were sent home exhausted following two recounts in his constituency.

The London seat has always been held by the Conservatives but was challenged by Labour in a “very close” vote.

The count was then suspended without a result to allow tellers to “rest and recuperate”. It will resume later on Friday or Saturday.

People were quick to remind Cleese of his tweet and the importance of casting a vote with one tweeting: “Kensington result on hold after [3rd] recount judged too close to call. I love John Cleese but this was totally irresponsible...”

Another posted: “OMG do you see how close Kensington is??? and you said no use for voting there cause it was a tory seat! #EveryVoteCounts #everyvotematters.”

Celebrities have been reacting to the shock outcome, with most celebrating Theresa May's humiliating blow.

The Prime Minister was mocked for calling a snap election that ended in a hung parliament after the Labour party won a number of key seats.

Russell Brand, who endorsed Jeremy Corbyn days before polling day, deemed the result a “beautiful response”.

James Corden and Lily Allen praised the young for making sure to vote, while Gary Lineker joked that May has “won [the] own goal of the season”.