Lib Dems aim to grab attention with campaign stunts

His answer, that politicians can take people’s issues seriously without needing to take themselves too seriously, makes sense for a leader who isn’t claiming to have a realistic chance of being the country’s next prime minister.

When his predecessor as Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson tried that bold strategy at the 2019 general election it spectacularly backfired.

In terms of number of seats won, the party came fourth behind the SNP.

This time the Lib Dems are much more targeted in their approach – prioritising areas where they came second to the Conservatives in 2019, defining themselves in opposition to the government.

They want to win in places like Cheadle and Cheltenham, Wimbledon and Winchester. And to do that, they have to get attention.

But that’s a challenge for the party, as it tries to rebuild following its electoral struggles of the past decade.

How much airtime each party gets during the election period is worked out by taking into account a combination of previous electoral success, and current polling.

To get coverage they need support, and to get support they need coverage – the vicious circle that afflicts all but the two main parties in Westminster.

The rules that guide how the BBC reports reflect the dominance of the Conservatives and Labour, and say both the Lib Dems and the Scottish National Party should receive “significant” coverage.

But current polling places the Lib Dems in around the same position as the insurgent Reform UK party, making the battle for airwaves and clicks even tougher.

The Lib Dems hope that if you see their man doing something wacky on social media or your TV, you might take the time to find out a bit more about what he stands for – with policy announcements this week on dentists and mental health, farming and crime.