QUENTIN LETTS: I'm working my socks off, said Rishi. Which was not quite true because you could see them beneath his jolly short trousers
Rishi Sunak was in Devon standing next to a Jackal 3 military vehicle with mounted general purpose machine gun and a 50-calibre Browning rifle.
After journalistic prompting, he climbed into the driving seat, still talking earnestly about his apprenticeships policy.
Elements of the press corps further encouraged him to climb behind a gun and take pretend aim. 'Sunak on campaign trail aims at Labour poll lead with all guns blazing.' We could have done something with that.
But Rishi wouldn't agree. The only thing he shot was a filthy look, at your sketchwriter for making so coarse a suggestion.
With Mrs Thatcher, it would have been hard to stop her letting rip with hot lead. Boris Johnson would have driven the thing into a pond. Sir Ed Davey, the Norman Wisdom of this election, would have contrived to fall off while shouting, 'Mr Grimsdale!'
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride (right) talking to community members during his visit to The Drewe Arms Community Pub, Exeter, Devon, while on the General Election campaign trail
QUENTIN LETTS (pictured): Is Rishi vulgar enough for this campaigning lark?
Is Rishi vulgar enough for this campaigning lark?
The venue was Dunkeswell Aerodrome near Honiton, where Supacat's 140 employees make handy kit for soldiers and others. Jeremy Clarkson has a Supacat on his farm. Any boy yearns to jump into such a machine and start pulling triggers. Doesn't he?
The Tory campaign arrived from Cornwall. En route there had been a stop at the Drewe Arms community pub in Drewsteignton, where Rishi had a pint of lemonade. How very sober but just a little dry of him. Nigel Farage would have emptied several ales.
Mr Sunak, who is a clean-living young man, wanted to keep his head clear for a question-and-answer session with workers at Supacat. At which, it has to be conceded, he was pretty good, though less madly energetic than last week in Derby.
He did his stump speech about furlough, the economy, aiming for lower taxes and keeping the axis of authoritarian states at bay.
One new line was about Labour's refusal to match the Tories' promise to protect the state pension from tax thresholds. This allowed him to claim that 'there's going to be a retirement tax if Labour wins'.
Another new thing was the policy on National Service, either military or in civic volunteering, for 18 to 20-year- olds. That was the subject of the first question from an employee called Caitlin.
She was 'undecided' about the policy. Rishi flew into quite an animated spiel about the idea's merits. 'I think service gives you purpose.' Caitlin listened with an open mind, from what one could tell.
Daniel said it was okay talking about apprentices and pensioners 'but what are you going to do for us?' – by which he meant workers aged 25 to 65. Mr Sunak talked of cutting taxes 'as soon as possible' and of the reduced inflation rate.
Mr Sunak, who is a clean-living young man, wanted to keep his head clear for a question-and-answer session with workers at Supacat. At which, it has to be conceded, he was pretty good, though less madly energetic than last week in Derby
This was not quite true as his socks were still on his feet. You could see them because his trousers – some Brunswick green chinos – were so jolly short. What a dinky little chap he is. He claimed he was winning people round. Was that true of the Supacat workforce? Heaven knows
Paul Buckland, 47, a technical manager, said: 'I don't disagree with anything you say but these polls, you're way behind.' How confident was he that he could reduce Labour's apparent lead? 'I'm not worried about the polls,' claimed Rishi. 'I'm working my socks off.'
This was not quite true as his socks were still on his feet. You could see them because his trousers – some Brunswick green chinos – were so jolly short. What a dinky little chap he is. He claimed he was winning people round. Was that true of the Supacat workforce? Heaven knows.
Afterwards, I had a word with Mr Buckland. 'I have no party loyalties,' he said. 'I don't know if he can turn those polls around. But I certainly feel I could vote for him.'
The policies don't seem to be a problem. Maybe they just need to be sold with a little more va-va-voom and old-fashioned ham.
In other news, Sir Ed Davey was in Wales and rode on a bicycle, flinging his legs out either side. My first erotic tingle as a boy, it so happens, was seeing Ginger Rogers doing much the same in a black and white film. Watching Sir Ed, I experienced no repeat of the feeling. I must be getting old.
MAUREEN CALLAHAN: There's a hidden message in Biden's humiliating withdrawal letter that should terrify every American. And the shaming question: Who on EARTH is running this country?
