Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has confused and delighted the internet by offering one lucky local the chance to “smell my spaniel”.
Farron’s bizarre comment was made to a Lib Dem activist who brought along his dog to hear the party leader speak in Cambridge at a campaign event.
Video circulating on social media shows Farron approaching the dog – which was naturally wearing a yellow Liberal Democrat rosette – and say: “Smell my spaniel.”
Things I never thought I'd tweet. On the campaign trail, Tim Farron tells a voter to "smell my spaniel" https://t.co/exAGdeOmqv pic.twitter.com/akH1VJNFi2
— Alex Wickham (@WikiGuido) April 27, 2017
And it’s really tickled Twitter.
“And I say to all of you. Go back to your constituencies and smell my spaniel” pic.twitter.com/UqRM6H0Nzm
— Mike Pullen (@MikePullen1969) April 27, 2017
Tim Farron to someone holding a dog: "Smell my spaniel, maybe."
Born campaigner.— Josh May (@JoshMay_PH) April 27, 2017
After the press over the last couple of days I'm calling "smell my spaniel" an resounding Lib Dem success.
— Andy Briggs (@Briggs_AndyJ) April 27, 2017
At an early stage of the Lib Dem campaign Farron has put a spaniel in the works
— Sam Roake (@samroake) April 27, 2017
People think it sounds like a line straight out of the mouth of Alan Partridge.
'Smell my spaniel' sounds vintage Partridge. #snifferdog https://t.co/JomV7DOaLa
— Dr Eliza Filby (@ElizaFilby) April 27, 2017
Tim Farron today on the campaign trail "smell my spaniel!" Sounding like Alan Partridge. #BBCDP
— Edward Mayes (@eljmayes) April 27, 2017
Farron’s spaniel Jasper often features on his Twitter account, with many pictures of the pair – which Farron has coined “Mad dog and Englishman” – going fell-running together.
Mad dog and Englishman go for a 7 mile fell run in the midday sun – superb views over Kent Estuary from Fairy Steps! pic.twitter.com/hcY2vje0bg
— Tim Farron (@timfarron) July 12, 2013
@stiggle it was hazy over the bay so you'll have to trust me, but here's the reverse shot to prove we were there! pic.twitter.com/0xGTcxuCjP
— Tim Farron (@timfarron) July 12, 2013
The full context of the comment isn’t exactly clear – it’s thought Farron may have been suggesting that the campaigner’s dog could smell Jasper’s scent on his clothes – but no one’s really that bothered.
I never ever want to know the context for the Tim Farron / Spaniel thing.
— Ian Rennie (@theangelremiel) April 27, 2017
"Smell my spaniel" is the most reasonable and least controversial soundbite of the general election campaign so far.
— David L Rattigan (@davidlrattigan) April 27, 2017
It’s been quite a day for words in the world of politics, with Boris Johnson calling Jeremy Corbyn a “mutton-headed old mugwump” and now Farron coming out with this. Whoever said politics wasn’t interesting?