Mandate's Top 7: Most politically embarrassing moments of our recent times

Posted by Theo Blackwell at Mon, 30/03/2009 - 9:07am in

Not wanting to jump on a passing weekend bandwagon, but as we couldn't resist, our Mandate team gathered views on the top 7 most politically cringe-worthy moments since King Canute got his sandals wet.

1.  Neil Kinnock falling over in the surf – would you trust the country to someone who couldn’t walk 10 yards without falling over? Later cemented by the ‘We’re Alright’ speech at the infamous Sheffield Rally.

2.  John Redwood’s Welsh Anthem mime – not knowing the words when you are Welsh Secretary may be tragic, but trying to sing along to them (lip-reading Welsh) was a farce. 

3. Al and Tipper’s Convention Kiss – Gore, under fire for his lack of personality in the 2000 race, does what can only be described as ‘slipping his wife the tongue'.  Note how the phrase ‘talent imitates’ comes to life as Obama’s technique reinforces, rather than undermines, his reputation on this comparison post.

4. William Hague’s “I drank 14 pints” boast – for political effect. Hague’s seeming porkie set the tone of the 2001 election, reinforced image of the Tory leader after his memorable ‘baseball cap’ incident at Notting Hill Carnival.

 

 

5.  Former Australian Liberal Party Treasurer Peter Costello "talking" the words to Beds are Burning by Midnight Oil - one of the singers was sitting opposite as an MP on the Labour benches at the time.

6. Peter Lilley – Frankly you could’ve picked a number of instances from in 1980s and 1990s from Conservative party Conference. This ranked the worst.  MPs - never, ever sing unless you are in a choir or a bath, by yourself.

7. Finally, Tony’s Blair’s sweats at Labour Party Conference (jointy with Cherie's rendition of "When I'm 64" in China) – as the speech progressed, you just realised that his sweaty armpits – not his speech – would be making the headlines the next day, which always makes it worse.

Why Top 7 you ask, and not Top 10? Well, the Mandate blog wanted to be distinctive from the usual ‘Top 10’ in the blogosphere, but really we could have done 70 here.

Tagged with: Tony Blair, Political gaffes, Peter Lilley, Neil Kinnock, Al Gore

Comments

Posted by Albert M. Bankment (not verified) at Mon, 30/03/2009 - 12:27pm

You could fill a Top 50 with all or any politician's apology, but one that I can't get out of my head even with Mindbleach is Mellor's cringingly dreadful Antonia de Sancha moment.

Gummer feeding burger to his daughter.

Kinnock's premature - "Well, all right. Well, all right. Well, all r-i-i-i-i-i-g-h-t" - victory speech.

Posted by Chris M (not verified) at Mon, 30/03/2009 - 12:47pm

Gordon Brown with a huge orange patch of make up on his face when meeting someone (Bush)?
Gordon Brown getting out of his limo with his trousers tucked into his socks?

Posted by Cassidy (not verified) at Mon, 30/03/2009 - 1:19pm

What about Nick Clegg talking about how many women he'd slept with. Cant see that was a vote-winner for the Lid Dems, or his wife..

Posted by Sandy Jamieson (not verified) at Mon, 30/03/2009 - 2:19pm

Gordon picking his nose is the obvious one.

Posted by Fiona (not verified) at Tue, 31/03/2009 - 3:39pm

Surely Michael Portillo's SAS speech should be up there with the 'best'. "The SAS has a motto - Who Dares Wins. We Dare. (deadpan) We. Will. Win". Brilliant!

Posted by Chas (not verified) at Thu, 02/04/2009 - 12:34pm

Portillo's SAS speech gets my vote. So crass; so poorly judged: went down well with everyone in the room, but with everyone outside the room it bombed (possibly poor choice of words).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54rhgUrzOXM

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