Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey admits he intentionally fell off a paddleboard during election campaign stunt in Lake District
Sir Ed Davey has fallen off a paddleboard multiple times during a campaign stunt in Windermere – admitting one of his plunges into the water was intentional.
The Liberal Democrat leader said his leap into the cold waters of the Lake District was for the benefit of the cameras – but he “just kept falling in” after that.
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Pic: Reuters
Sir Ed squeezed himself into a wetsuit before taking questions from journalists while on the campaign trail.
Despite the footage causing a splash online, he stressed there was a “serious message” behind the stunt.
“Lakes like Lake Windermere are so precious,” he said. “Our environment and our wonderful country is so critical to so many people.
“It’s important for public health, it’s important for the environment, it’s important for the tourist economy.”
Windermere is the largest lake in England but has also been the site of sewage dumping – with United Utilities releasing more than 27,000 hours of untreated sewage since 2020, according to analysis of Environment Agency (EA) data by campaign group Save Windermere.
Pic: Reuters
The sewage crisis is set to be a key campaign issue for the Lib Dems as they seek to woo Tory voters who are disillusioned with the state of the UK’s rivers and seas.
According to the Environment Agency, sewage spills into England’s waterways more than doubled in 2023 with 3.6 million hours – equal to about 400 years – compared with 1.75 million hours in 2022.
Water companies can legally do this in emergencies to prevent sewage backing up elsewhere, but the proliferation of discharges has raised questions about whether they are doing this routinely.
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Sir Ed has unveiled a raft of policies aimed at tackling the issue, including that local environmental experts should be represented on water company boards to “improve public accountability and transparency”.
His party has also proposed abolishing Ofwat and creating a new regulator, as well as banning bonuses for the CEOs of water companies.
The visit to Windermere is just one of many elections stunts that the Lib Dems have held over the years to capture the public’s attention and compete with Labour and the Tories for election headlines.
Throughout the years they have come up with novel ways to celebrate election victories – including a fake cannon emblazoned with the words “get these clowns out of No 10” following the party’s win the Somerset and Frome by-election, and knocking down a blue brick wall to signify defeating the Tories in the Chesham and Amersham by-election.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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