Another Tory airbrushing story

By Iain Roberts | Tue 16th March 2010 - 9:36 pm

It seems Conservative politicians can’t stop being airbrushed – always without their knowledge of course.

The Mail has the story of Caroline Dinenage, Conservative candidate for Gosport:

The digital makeover was initially denied by Miss Dinenage, who hopes to replace outgoing MP Sir Peter Viggers – notorious for his duck island expenses claim. ‘By virtue of the fact it’s so big it’s slightly pixelated,’ she insisted. ‘It does look different but it’s not airbrushed.’

But her assistant Glenn Duggan admitted the image had been changed without her knowledge, adding: ‘It has been done to make it more visually attractive for a billboard. Of course, she is attractive anyway.’

There’s something quite endearing about her assistant doing a photoshop job on the picture without her knowing (these things aren’t quick – what did she think he was up to that day?), and I love the “Of course she is attractive anyway” comment.

Gosport Conservatives haven’t had the best of times in the last few months. Their current MP, Sir Peter Viggers, achieved national fame with his duck island claim.

Then, last August, Gosport’s Conservative chairman said he’d only pick a female candidate if she were attractive.

However, with a majority of 5,730 over Labour from 2005, Dinenage must still fancy her chances.

3 Comments

Tom King 16th Mar '10 - 10:09pm

She looked better before the airbrushing.
Andrew Suffield 17th Mar '10 - 8:25am

Hmm. Would we prefer to have airbrushed candidates, or people being selected as candidates because of their “natural” (post-makeup) appearance? Tough choice.
Peter Chegwyn 17th Mar '10 - 8:56am

Caroline Dinenage-Garetta is becoming a bit of a laughing stock in Gosport.

Which is good news for the Liberal Democrats!

But remember this is the constituency where the Conservative Party Chairman Alan B’Scard told Channel 4 News he would only vote for a female candidate “if she is attractive enough”.

Clearly Ms. Dinenage-Garetta feels she needs to touch-up her photo in order to get her own Conservative Chairman’s vote (especially as Mr B’Scard didn’t vote for her when the Conservatives chose their candidate!).