The Lib Dems have always gone the extra mile to have their pictures published
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey taking part in a baking lesson with students from High Beeches Primary School, Herts ; at the Ultimate Slip ‘n’ Slide at Eastcote Farm on an election campaign visit in Beckington, Somerset ; unsuccessfully attempting to build a Jenga-like tower at Bramall Hall in Stockport hacks, wonks, politicians and assorted nerds have been locked in a never ending debate on whether Labour would put...
Since the election was called two weeks ago, Davey has been filmed and photographed paddle-boarding on a lake, drumming along to “We Will Rock You” while balancing on an exercise ball, playing a game of giant blue jenga, making a cake, and going down a slide. It hasn’t always been clear what those stunts were for.
“When I worked for the party, it wasn’t photo ops and silly stunts, but there was a recognition that you had to find something that the others weren’t giving” said Sean Kemp, a former adviser to Nick Clegg and others. Still, the one person who can be thanked for this newfound obsession with stunts is Willie Rennie, who ran the Scottish Lib Dems from 2011 until 2021. There is, to be blunt, not a photo-op Rennie did not do in that decade. For many, beautiful years, Rennie was unavoidable.Perhaps unexpectedly, his tenure as Britain’s foremost whimsy merchant was inspired by the Conservatives.
“The SNP manifesto launch was some massive thing, like a slimmed down version of the Democratic National Convention, with a jumbotron and everything”, the former staffer said. “About two days later, we took Willie Rennie into a soft play area and had him going down the slide with a load of kids.” Still, “there’s definitely a method to the madness”, they added. “We saw an immediate uptick in terms of pictures of Willie published throughout the campaign. The proof in the pudding was that we were winning constituencies for the first time in a few years.”
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey Falls Off Paddleboard 'On Purpose'Ned Simons is politics news editor for HuffPost UK based in London. He can be reached by email at ned.simonshuffpost.com or on Twitter nedsimons.
Read more »
Sir Ed Davey takes the plunge as he reveals Lib Dem plan to tackle sewage crisisLocal Liberal Democrat candidate Tim Farron joined his party leader at Low Wood Bay Watersports Centre in Windermere.
Read more »
Sir Ed Davey takes the plunge as he reveals Lib Dem plan to tackle sewage crisisLocal Liberal Democrat candidate Tim Farron joined his party leader at Low Wood Bay Watersports Centre in Windermere.
Read more »
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey clowns around on bike after paddleboard stuntWhile some political watchers may already be sick of the election cycle - Sir Ed Davey has taken it rather literally for his latest publicity stunt.
Read more »
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey clowns around on bike after paddleboard stuntWhile some political watchers may already be sick of the election cycle - Sir Ed Davey has taken it rather literally for his latest publicity stunt.
Read more »
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey clowns around on bike after paddleboard stuntWhile some political watchers may already be sick of the election cycle - Sir Ed Davey has taken it rather literally for his latest publicity stunt.
Read more »