Tales from the campaign trail.

By Chris Lee – Director and Head of Media Strategy 

With the pre-election period (formerly known as purdah) in full swing, political leaders of all parties are criss-crossing the country with their PR and comms advisers in tow.

From coastal towns to city centres, voters are getting the full force of slick, highly visual campaign visits – carefully designed to land across broadcast, print and online media, and socials.

With major elections taking place right across the UK, these moments aren’t just about turning up – they’re about cut through. So, from a comms perspective, we thought it would be worth a quick look at some of the more memorable media moments from the campaign trail so far.

Frenemies assemble

The Prime Minister took a brief break from international affairs for a campaign stop at a primary school breakfast club in Ashton-under-Lyne.

Joined by Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham (with Bridget Phillipson also in attendance), the visit delivered a classic “strength in numbers” visual – local, national and mayoral leadership aligned, and on friendly terms in his former Deputy Leader’s back yard.

For all the critique of his style, Starmer consistently comes across at ease in these environments. Schools offer a reliable backdrop: warm visuals, human interactions, and a policy tie-in that doesn’t feel forced.

Sadly, no 6-7s this time.

Stuntometer: 6/10

Solid, well-executed, very much by the book.

Pothole patrol on a roll

The Leader of the Opposition has been tackling the nation’s potholes – quite literally.

Perched atop a five-tonne JCB roller in the West Midlands, hard hat firmly in place, Badenoch’s visit was a textbook example of a visual that does the heavy lifting. Instantly understandable, regionally relevant, and neatly tied to a funding announcement.

It’s not subtle – but it doesn’t need to be. For broadcast and picture desks, it was a golden: movement, machinery, and a clear story in a single frame.

Stuntometer: 8/10

High-impact, media-friendly, and hard to ignore.

No time to dive

Ed Davey, long-time holder of the “most likely to end up in the water” award, appears to have taken a more restrained approach this time round.

A visit to a charitable housing development in Southwest London – complete with hard hat and high-vis – felt noticeably more conventional than we’ve come to expect.

Perfectly passable, but for a party that has built a reputation on eye-catching, did that just happen? Moments, it risks blending into the wider campaign noise.

Stuntometer: 2/10

Safe. Perhaps a little too safe?

Licence to fill

Nigel Farage and Robert Jenrick opted for a forecourt intervention in rural Derbyshire – rebranding a petrol station and offering a 25p per litre discount to motorists.

As campaign moments go, this ticks lots of boxes: clear public benefit, strong visual identity, and a simple policy hook. Add in an al fresco press conference, and you’ve got a ready-made media package.

It’s bold, slightly theatrical – and almost guaranteed to travel well across both traditional and social channels.

Stuntometer: 9/10

Eye-catching, disruptive, and built for coverage.

Strictly come canvassing

Under Zack Polanski, the Green Party seems to be leaning away from traditional “set piece” visits and into content designed to travel natively on social.

One of their most viral moments so far – clocking up millions of views – featured Polanski and new MP Hannah Spencer dancing on stage at an anti-racism event in Trafalgar Square.

It’s a different kind of asset: less about the morning broadcast round, more about shareability and reach. The message is still there – but it’s packaged for a very different channel.

Stuntometer: 5/10

Not a classic stunt – but not trying to be.

Gone with the spin

What’s clear from the campaign so far is that the line between policy announcement and content creation continues to blur.

The most effective moments aren’t just well-staged – they’re creative, authentic and, crucially, adaptable. They need to work as a broadcast clip, a still image, and a social post, all at the same time.

While there’s still a place for the traditional hard hat and hi-vis, the real test is whether a campaign moment can cut through beyond the day’s news cycle – and travel organically online.

But with that comes risk. However much planning goes into a visit, one wrong move can not only derail the announcement – it can become the story itself. Just ask Keir Starmer, ejected from a pub by an angry landlord, or Boris Johnson, rugby tackling a child to the ground whilst on a visit to Japan.

Safe to say, the key messages didn’t lead the coverage that day.

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