With parliament on recess and surfing dogs thrilling newsreaders it is definitely the silly season.

Rain may be conspiring to spoil the hazy days of summer, but here’s a sweet treat: a collection of politicians past and present enjoying the best of the season: eating ice cream in the way that only they can. Awkwardly.

1. Nothing says photocall like three men eating ice creams in suits.

2010 General <a href=Election aftermath">(Andrew Milligan/PA)

Cheers! Election victory toasted with a round of ice creams. Here’s Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott with deputy leader and MP for Roxburgh, Berwickshire and Selkirk Michael Moore (left) and Edinburgh West MP Mike Crockart.

2. Who gets an ice cream and then gets in a car? David Cameron, that’s who.

2010 General Election campaign Apr 21st(Johnny Green/PA)

3. Hilary Benn eating ice cream the sensible way: with a tiny spoon.

Hilary Benn eating ice cream during a 2010 general election campaign stop (Andrew Milligan/PA)(Andrew Milligan/PA)

MMMMmmmmm.

4. Nothing says summer like eating ice cream in a giant deckchair. In a suit.

Jo Cox shooting anniversary(Andrew Milligan/PA).

That’s Scottish Parliament presiding officer Ken Macintosh MSP getting his summer on.

5. “Oi, Gordon, you want syrup or sprinkles?”

Tony Blair buys a 99 ice cream for himself and Gordon Brown (Peter Nicholls/PA)

Tony Blair likes to share.

6. I got 99 problems but ice cream ain’t one.

Then Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown enjoy ice creams.(Peter Nicholls/PA)

Look how happy, Gordon Brown is with his Mr Whippy and Flake.

7. When in Cornwall, Boris Johnson does ice cream in a very fancy cone.

Boris Johnson excitedly about to eat an ice cream(Stefan Rousseau/PA)

8. This is why Hilary Benn gets ice cream in a cup.

General Election 2017(Jane Barlow/PA)

Eventually the napkin just gets soggy and a bit pointless as demonstrated by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

9. Tiny ice cream. Major awks.

General Election 2015 campaign – April 21st(Gareth Fuller/PA)

10. “Hold on, that other stand serves different flavours!”

2010 General Election campaign Apr 15th(Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Peter Mandelson certainly doesn’t hang around when it comes to ice cream.

11. A tricolour in ice cream form…

Comedian Al Murray eating a red, white and blue ice cream on the campaign trail (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Can’t decide what flavour to have? Then have them all… like Al Murray.