Sir Ed Davey was given a makeover on live morning television today in the Liberal Democrat leader’s latest bizarre campaign stunt ahead of the General Election.
The 58-year-old was compared to ‘The Man From Del Monte’ as he pranced about on a catwalk in front of hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard on ITV’s This Morning.
The politician put on a linen blazer, navy chinos and leather trainers after his team asked stylist Laura Puddy for the ‘perfect summer outfit for the campaign trial’.
Emerging after an advert break, the presenters welcomed him out as Deeley declared: ‘It is time for the big reveal, come on out, I feel like we need glitter!’
As Sir Ed walked to the Jamelia song Superstar, Deeley urged him to ‘suck in your cheekbones’, ‘clench your buttocks’ and ‘turn around’ – which turned his face red.
But Shephard said: ‘Ed, you’ve been falling off paddleboards, you’ve been swinging on things and this is the thing you’re embarrassed by. You look fantastic.’
Ms Puddy said the £129 linen blazer gave a ‘softer tailoring’ and also highlighted the ‘subtle stripe’ on the £40 shirt, with both items from Marks & Spencer.
She then handed him the sunglasses and a fedora hat, saying it was the ‘perfect summer look’.
The studio then played the Right Said Fred track I’m Too Sexy.
Deeley added: ‘Ed Del Monte, he say yeah’ – a reference to the classic adverts for Del Monte with the catchline: ‘The Man From Del Monte, he say yes!’.
Sir Ed said he was ‘very grateful’ for the new look and had ‘never been made up like this before.’ He added that he was ‘really comfortable’ and they had ‘got my sizes right’.
The politician has carried out a series of slapstick photo ops in recent weeks, including getting drenched falling off an aquatic obstacle course in Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire, yesterday.
It was reminiscent of his attempt at paddleboarding in Windermere a fortnight ago, when he sought to draw attention to the polluted state of Britain’s waters.
Two days later, he hurtled himself down a giant slip ‘n slide in an inflatable ring in Frome, Somerset, to promote the party’s child mental health policies.
He has also been pictured with his legs spread wide open as he rode a bike during a visit to Knighton in Wales, and joined care home residents in a DrumFit class at Abbotswood Court Care Village in Romsey, Hampshire.
The politician was also pictured yesterday roasting marshmallows while visiting Willow Forest School of the Elm Nursery in Guilford.
Betting firm Ladbrokes has now set up a betting pool for what activities Sir Ed is likely to take part in before the General Election on July 4 – with options including riding a bucking bronco, bungee jumping or being fired out of a cannon.
On Monday, Sir Ed launched the party’s manifesto in London and unveiled his vision for Britain to rejoin the European Union.
He has committed to rejoining the single market, which would result in the return of free movement, as one of four steps towards the ‘longer-term objective’ of EU membership.
The proposal was among a host of radical plans – including cannabis shops on high streets, gender self-ID and a 500 per cent increase of council tax on second homes – in the 116-page manifesto.
Overall, the party plans to hike taxes by almost £27billion to fund major investments in health, social care and public services. It includes reforms to capital gains tax – paid on profits from selling an asset – which would raise £5billion by 2028/29.
There was also a package of health and care pledges – with a plan to recruit or retain 8,000 extra GPs to give a right to be seen by a doctor within seven days.
Sir Ed also wants a new clean water authority to replace Ofwat and has promised to ‘end the sewage scandal’ by transforming water firms into public benefit companies, banning bonuses for water bosses until discharges and leaks stop, and replacing Ofwat with a new regulator.