It’s fortunate popularity is not Tony Abbott’s goal because haemorrhoids, an out-of-control Justin Bieber and even the dreaded torture chamber from Orwell’s 1984 would be beating him.

The hashtag #MorePopularThanAbbott began trending on Twitter on Monday, a dig at the prime minister’s declaration he wasn’t vying for popularity following two bad post-budget opinion polls.

“In the end, my job is not necessarily to win a popularity contest, my job is to run the country effectively,” he told ABC radio.

Twitter has been bombarded by hundreds of creative taunts declaring Kim Jong Un, the Spanish Inquisition, rabies and leggings as pants all more popular than the nation’s leader.

Kraft’s failed brand name Vegemite iSnack 2.0 was among the jabs, as were floppy disks, granny panties and a post-teen Bieber.

Even sporting stars have been pulled into the mix, with one tweet claiming detested English cricketer Stuart Broad is more popular.