The fourth week of the general election campaign began with Grant Shapps being interviewed on Sky News and other broadcasters.
That’s not surprising.
Like Jude Bellingham, who played for Gareth Southgate’s England team at the Euros, Shapps was one of the first players to be named in Rishi Sunak’s campaign squad for broadcast interviews.
A look at Sky News interview rankings from the election campaign so far reveals the Defence Secretary is one of the top three Cabinet ministers leading the Conservative TV attack on Labour.
Unsurprisingly, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride, an ultra-loyal supporter of Mr Sunak, topped the rankings with five interviews, while Home Secretary James Cleverley was interviewed four times.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper, another staunch supporter of Mr Sunak, was just behind the top three, in three interviews with Sky News. Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips On the weekend.
Sky News’ league table is likely to be similar to those of other broadcasters and will therefore be a good indicator of the total number of interviews given by leading politicians during the election campaign.
What about the Labour Party?
Topping the Labour Sky News interview rankings is tough-talking Jonathan Ashworth with eight, followed by shadow health secretary Wes Streeting. Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips 7 o’clock on the weekend.
Clearly viewed by Labour’s most senior figures as the party’s media chiefs, the pair are also some of the most visible members of the shadow cabinet in the press room after TV debates, often taking part in spirited debates with their Conservative opponents.
A game divided into two halves
Politics, like football, is of course often divided into two halves, and with 17 days left in the six-week campaign, it seems fair to say that this election is moving from the group stage to the knockout stage.
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was forthright in his comments about political leaders, describing Southgate as possessing “all the qualities a leader should have – respect, humility, truth-telling, integrity”.
With the Euros coinciding with the election campaign in late June, who will be the winner in July? Gareth Southgate, Rishi Sunak or Sir Keir Starmer?
