I RECKON many politicians shoot themselves in the foot when agreeing to ‘photo opportunities’ which their advisers arrange for the television cameras.

The results often appear ludicrous.

While accepting the need for most health and safety regulations, I cannot believe how regularly politicians appear in high-visibility jackets, hard hats and safety glasses even when the locations don’t appear to be potentially dangerous.

I once watched a news report featuring a leading political figure being interviewed in a field. He and the interviewer were wearing the aforementioned safety clobber. It was just a normal field. It was flat and green. Any potential safety risks were not immediately obvious.

What was being discussed escapes me because my mind was occupied by a single thought.

It was this. If fields are more dangerous than the average man and woman would have considered to be the case, why are farmers not obliged by law to kit out their cows in high-visibility jackets, hard hats and safety glasses?

Another implausible picture is painted when politicians agree to being filmed in the kitchen of their home. Labour leader Ed Miliband did so recently. The small kitchen was not in keeping with the size of Mr Miliband’s London house. It then transpired his home has a second, larger kitchen.

I can understand two bathrooms but two kitchens? Mr Miliband endeavoured to reduce the flak coming in his direction by advising the house had two kitchens when he and his wife bought the property.

Given Mr Miliband’s experience, Prime Minister David Cameron might have thought twice about being interviewed in the kitchen of his rural home.

In the interview, which was broadcast on Monday, Mr Cameron, who perhaps was trying too hard to appear cool and relaxed, let his guard down and gave a reply to a question that may come back to haunt him. I have a tip for Messrs Miliband and Cameron.

The next time you wish to appear natural, allow the cameras to film you rebuilding a motorbike engine on the kitchen table while puffing a small cigar and slugging from a can of lager.