ANDREW PIERCE: Conservative champagne shindig in South-West London's exclusive Hurlingham Club 'will be a gift to Labour'

With the cost-of-living crisis still the No 1 issue for most voters, Rishi Sunak walked into a trap when he tried to convince voters about the hardships he endured as a child.

Once a day pupil at Winchester College — where annual fees are now £38,000 — he was widely mocked on social media after complaining in a TV interview that his family once had to forgo Sky TV.

The PR blunder is why two former Tory chairmen are warning the party is making a mistake by pressing ahead with its summer gala at the exclusive Hurlingham Club in South-West London on Thursday.

The club occupies a 42-acre estate next to the River Thames, with tennis courts and croquet lawns. Tables at the event cost up to £12,000. One ex-Tory chief whispers: 'Ministers seen quaffing champagne next to fabulously rich donors. A gift for Labour.'

Sunak has deftly withdrawn, citing prior commitments. So why is it going ahead? Donations have collapsed even faster than the Tories' poll ratings and they need the money.

Rishi Sunak (pictured at a Sky News election event in Grimsby) was widely mocked on social media after complaining in a TV interview that his family once had to forgo Sky TV

Two former Tory chairmen are warning the party is making a mistake by pressing ahead with its summer gala at the exclusive Hurlingham Club (pictured) in South-West London on Thursday

The late Queen might have had a view on Sunak's apparent hardship. Channel 4 anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy says: 'Even the Queen didn't have Sky TV for a while.

'I once discussed this with her at a media reception many years ago. She told me how difficult she found it trying to record one programme on her video recorder while watching another.'

 Lid Dem leader Ed gets the blues 

Sir Ed Davey's search for dignity-defying stunts reached the ITV This Morning sofa last week, with the Lib Dem leader having a fashion makeover.

He sashayed down the catwalk draped in lightweight linen from Marks & Spencer's summer collection.

'Are you not worried that it's too blue?' teased presenter Ben Shephard. 'No,' Davey replied, showing his true colours. 'The blue is fading!'

But not everyone is impressed by the antics of Sir Ed, who was the Post Office minister when the Horizon IT scandal was unfolding.

Broadcaster Michael Crick says: 'I wonder what the hundreds of wrongly convicted postmasters think of all this fooling around by Ed Davey.

'If I were still a TV reporter, I'd take a few appallingly treated postmasters to the next Davey stunt and see what they think.'

Sir Ed Davey's search for dignity-defying stunts reached the ITV This Morning sofa last week, with the Lib Dem leader (pictured) having a fashion makeover

Former Tory minister Edwina Currie cuts to the quick about Reform UK. 'Reform will get millions of votes. But no MPs. Or maybe just one,' she says. 

'They're the dog in the manger. Can't eat the hay but will stop other creatures from eating . . . All you'll do is put more Labour MPs in the Commons. Why bother?' 

Curse of the gingerbread chucker 

Did Nigel Farage get off lightly when he was struck by a wad of wet cement on his battle bus last week? In Victorian times, candidates were routinely pelted by stones, mud, turnips and even dead cats and dogs.

When the Liberal statesman William Gladstone visited Chester in 1892, he was hit in the eye by a lump of gingerbread thrown at him by a 'middle-aged and bony woman'. Perhaps that's what comes of hob-nobbing with voters.

Nigel Farage speaking at his election rally in the Victory Bar at Great Yarmouth racecourse, flanked by a security guard to his right

How the SNP fussed when ITV paid ex-Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson to be an election-night pundit in 2019.

Yet when it was revealed last week that a certain Nicola Sturgeon has been hired by ITV for its coverage on July 4, new SNP leader John Swinney was supportive.

That's the same Sturgeon who is being paid £300,000 for her memoirs. What hypocrisy!

Ex-Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson (pictured in December 2023) worked as an election-night pundit in 2019

Poet Pam Ayres gave her own inimitable take on the General Election:

Who's going to build the houses?

Who's going to tax the wealth?

Who's going to solve the little boats,

And save the National Health?

The eyes are glazing over,

At all that's being said,

You cope with the election,

I'm goin' back to bed.