The Polit-ICK checklist! GLEN OWEN’s checklist of how politicians make us wince

They’re different folks’s private foibles that trigger enormous irritation. Last Sunday, we printed an inventory of males’s ‘icks’ that girls hate – gripes which embody saying ‘perfecto!’, driving at precisely the pace restrict or being too ham-fisted to unhook a bra.

Not solely did it set off a blizzard of additional solutions from readers, however in what is predicted to be Election yr – with strategists poring over the findings of focus teams in an try to offer their leaders the sting – we thought it solely truthful to unfold the scope and print a ‘polit-ick checklist’ of annoying behaviour by these in cost.

Sir John Curtice, the nation’s pre-eminent election guru, says that whereas quirks of character and look can have an effect on votes on the margins, the larger downside is lack of character. 

He mentioned: ‘We have such boring leaders – in all probability the dullest we now have ever had. The events are enjoying protected, almost certainly as a result of the flamboyant ones, equivalent to Boris Johnson, at all times get into hassle.’

The reality is that voters recoil from politicians who strive too exhausting to venture a false picture, equivalent to multi-millionaire Rishi Sunak posing for photographers as a ‘man of the folks’ whereas filling a automotive with petrol. 

The PM scores on numerous ick fronts, together with his overly quick trousers, his hoodies and his dislike of alcohol.

But Sir Keir Starmer additionally raises the ick-level with images of him enjoying soccer.

One of the most important bugbears of the Mail’s parliamentary sketchwriter Quentin Letts is the way in which MPs come over all weepy within the Commons when discussing their ‘journeys’. 

But as he provides: ‘There are so very, very many extra…’

Our Westminster supremo Glen Owen’s pet hates embody politicians who…

Go on ‘fact-finding’ journeys to the southern hemisphere throughout our winter

Stand in a humorous pose, particularly with legs extensive aside, attempting to look dominant

Have schmaltzy spouses who introduce themselves earlier than a celebration convention speech

Say ‘I’ve been very clear about this’ once they palpably have not been, or begin sentences with the phrases ‘it’s clear that…’ – when usually the precise reverse is in truth true

Kiss their partner after a giant speech

Vape, like Angela Rayner

Loll about on the Commons benches as in the event that they’re on a sun-lounger, like Jacob Rees-Mogg

Say ‘I might be transient’ at first of a speech that goes on for ever

Get handsy at photocalls in order that they grip the opposite particular person’s forearm or shoulder (French presidents are dreadful at this)

Try to be cool and ‘get down with the youngsters’

Eagerly comply with a selfie

Jog, like Boris Johnson (and put on working gear that appears as if it comes from misplaced property)

Work out in a public park, like Matt Hancock

Eat messily, like Ed Miliband

Fail totally, as Welsh Minister, to sing the Welsh anthem

Pretend to love soccer/pop music

Ride bikes

Wear a tough hat for photocalls (particularly Chancellors the day after a Budget)

Do photo-ops in tanks

Dance badly, like Theresa May

Smoke

Roll-up their sleeves to attempt to sign dedication – particularly in the event that they fold their arms

Call colleagues ‘gallant’ in the event that they have been within the Armed Forces, or ‘realized’ if a lawyer

Nod ostentatiously in the Commons

Issue New Year messages

Are unable to say ‘I do not know’ or ‘I do not actually have a view’

Are photographed holding a tea cup

Name legal guidelines after younger victims

Are under the extent of head of state however nonetheless make use of a ‘chief of workers’

Use non-public jets

Point at their viewers after a giant speech

Don’t drink, like Rishi Sunak

Play soccer – particularly because the goalkeeper

Wear two watches, like Jeremy Hunt

Make a multitude of Zoom calls

Fall asleep in Parliament

Fall over

Leave their high shirt button undone

Don’t tuck their shirt in

Pour a really unhealthy pint

Pretend to love cats and canine

Wear Union Jack ties or sit in entrance of a flag for Zoom calls

Send multiple tweet each hour

Watch pornography in Parliament, like Neil Parish

Do karaoke at occasion conferences

Conduct interviews with arms firmly of their pockets

Go into politics straight after college – notably in the event that they’ve studied PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) at Oxford

And on the subject of specifics, do not get us began on Rishi’s troos

Sir Ed Davey at all times demanding opponents resign (however ignoring calls to give up himself over the Post Office scandal)

‘Lib Dems Winning Here!’ posters (particularly when they aren’t…)

Rachel Reeves’ voice (much more grating than Sir Keir Starmer’s)

Jacob Rees-Mogg taking his doppelganger son with him on public engagements

Sir Keir’s Brylcreemed hair

Jeremy Corbyn’s eye-roll and sneer (at journalists who dare to query him)

Rishi Sunak’s quick trouser legs and hoodies

Sir Keir’s Arsenal references and Sunak mentioning Southampton FC

Party leaders with photographers to snap ‘behind-the-scenes’ photos in black and white

Whenever Nigel Farage says ‘frankly’

Anyone who says ‘strong’, ‘stakeholder’, ‘above my pay grade’ or ‘we’re working exhausting’

References to think-tanks such because the Resolution Foundation – although such teams are past reproach

Any Liberal Democrats

Readers add a couple of of their very own icks to final week’s checklist

People who…

Have matching shampoo and conditioner

Are terrified of moths

Tap a fake watch

Are treasured about sell-by dates

Fail to come clean with errors – that are clearly their fault – and blame another person

Queue-jump

Think party-poppers are good enjoyable

Spit on the road

Use garden-trimmers and leaf-blowers at 8am

Spend quite a lot of time within the fitness center and assume it makes them enticing

Order ‘difficult espresso’ in an extended queue

Jangle keys or cash of their pockets