Almost every member of parliament recently took part in a photoshoot with renowned portrait photographer Chris McAndrew.
Over 15,000 individual images were shot following the swearing-in ceremony after the snap General Election, with 90% of MPs photographed during the first round.
McAndrew has worked with everyone from Snoop Dogg to the likes of Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart, and the results with *ever so slightly* less glamorous subjects were just as impressive.
Labour MP Emily Thornberry (Chris McAndrew)
The idea came from Parliament’s new digital services editor-in-chief Carrie Barclay, who wanted to “give greater emphasis to the human side” of Westminster.
The images are up on the new beta parliament website, but you needn’t look further than Twitter to see that Barclay and McAndrew’s vision has been successful.
It started with this tweet from a BBC reporter, who definitely spotted some human emotions in Tory MP James Duddridge’s face.
James Duddridge as the scientist who's spotted the rounding error which means the asteroid will hit earth after all https://t.co/MH5jB8nbVP pic.twitter.com/4gFBiy647P
— Esther Webber (@estwebber) July 26, 2017
Next up was the MP for Wyre and Preston North, who’s barely hiding his annoyance.
Ben Wallace MP as a Parisian restrauteur, after being asked by a British couple for a bottle of the second cheapest white wine pic.twitter.com/SG9iLrPTTn
— Joey D'Urso (@josephmdurso) July 26, 2017
McAndrew’s shot of Brexit secretary David Davis was was begging for a caption.
David Davis's new portrait makes him look like a friendly cartoon detective who fights crime with the help of a fluffy yet cunning dog: pic.twitter.com/zg0PjjDwqX
— Marie Le Conte (@youngvulgarian) July 26, 2017
And they just kept on getting better.
Thangam Debbonaire MP is your mate's mum after you tell her that her roast dinners are the best you've ever had and your mate rolls his eyes pic.twitter.com/IQfJ238PAN
— Joey D'Urso (@josephmdurso) July 26, 2017
Robert Neill does not expect you to talk, Commander Bond, he expects you to die. pic.twitter.com/GCUdm037S9
— Cuck Norris (@twlldun) July 26, 2017
It’s fair to say some of the portraits, all of which can be found and downloaded on the beta website, are definitely endearing.
Andrew Bridgen is the colleague who says "Not if I see you first!" after you say "see you soon" pic.twitter.com/dqHZXkGiRU
— Esther Webber (@estwebber) July 26, 2017
Ken Clarke’s portrait was particularly striking, and inspired a few people.
Ken Clarke is the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts pic.twitter.com/0zBHbWOQPq
— Alex Marklew (@MarklewA) July 26, 2017
Ken Clarke has heard about your distinguished tour of duty in The Punjab but is sceptical about your attentions towards his daughter. pic.twitter.com/gDYdg8b3Yq
— Jack Tindale (@JackTindale) July 26, 2017
Barry Gardiner struck his sassiest pose. But Esther reckons he’s hiding something.
Barry Gardiner knows deep down he'll never be ringmaster again after the circus closes pic.twitter.com/GaEeuVhsK8
— Esther Webber (@estwebber) July 26, 2017
Amazingly, until this point nobody had mentioned one of parliament’s most meme-able politicians. But fear not.
Corbyn looks like he moonlights in December as Santa (those rosy cheeks) but remains a cheerful PM-in-waiting January to November. pic.twitter.com/fI3VVK8MjF
— Silversmith (@lizsilversmith) July 26, 2017
Theresa May’s image is yet to appear on the new site, but to continue the fan fiction adventure yourself head over there anyway.
There are some corkers, and Barclay and McAndrew definitely seem to have achieved their goal.
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