In Pictures: Never a dull moment with Sir Ed Davey on Lib Dem election trail

The party leader tried his hand at wheelbarrow racing, paddleboarding and even bungee-jumping in a bid to get the voting public’s attention.

Published Jul 4, 2024

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey threw himself into the General Election campaign in more ways than one, attempting a whole range of action-packed stunts designed to get the voting public’s attention.

The 58-year-old brought some light relief to an otherwise intense pre-election period, causing a splash paddleboarding and surfing, and entertaining onlookers with a bungee jump while urging voters to take a similar “leap of faith” and back his party at the ballot box.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey eats ice cream on the promenade in Eastbourne, East Sussex — Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey made an early campaign visit to Eastbourne, East Sussex, where he ate an ice cream on the promenade (Aaron Chown/PA)

Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey falls into the water while paddleboarding on Lake Windermere — The 58-year-old fell in the water while paddleboarding on Lake Windermere as he outlined his party’s plan to tackle the sewage crisis … (Peter Byrne/PA)

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey taking part in a baking lesson with primary school students — Taking a more sedentary approach, Sir Ed joined primary school students in Hertfordshire in a baking lesson (Yui Mok/PA)

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey taking part in wheelbarrow racing — This was followed later in the month by wheelbarrow racing at Huish Park, home of Yeovil Town Football Club in Somerset (Will Durrant/PA)

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey shakes hands with a woman worker — … and meeting staff at the Richard James Hub in London (Lucy North/PA)

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey drawing a charcoal-on-pastel artwork — He then demonstrated his creative side drawing a charcoal-on-pastel artwork at Harrogate College in Yorkshire … (Danny Lawson/PA)

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey takes part in paddleboard yoga — Paddleboard yoga in Streatley, Berkshire, presented a challenge … (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey taking part in a bungee jump — In peak campaign mode, Sir Ed took part in a bungee jump at Eastbourne Borough Football Club, East Sussex (Gareth Fuller/PA)