Grant Shapps pulls on hoodie, puffer jacket, and shades – goes viral
A Tory MP has gone viral for looking a bit out of touch, but not in the usual way – and it seems to have worked.
In an attempt to ease the cost of living crisis without in any way helping keep homes warm, the government on Tuesday announced the Great British Rail Sale, offering Brits up to 50 per cent off train tickets around the UK between 25 April and 27 May.
To help with the cost of living, we're selling over 1 million rail tickets at up to ½ price for trips from 25 Apr to 27 May 🎫
After 2 yrs of living life virtually, the Great British Rail Sale🚆 starts today.
Get yours here👉 https://t.co/FJmjw54wyZ pic.twitter.com/CyPva6s905
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) April 19, 2022
🚆London to Edinburgh for just £22, Manchester to Newcastle for a mere £10.30.
We’re easing the burden this Spring by slashing up to 50% off more than 1 million rail tickets in the nation’s first ever, Great British Rail Sale.🎫
Book your next trip now: https://t.co/FJmjw54wyZ pic.twitter.com/0Z1a9FWZ3D
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) April 19, 2022
In doing so, Grant Shapps was wheeled out to front a no-frills video where he used a number of props – sunglasses, binoculars, and even a plastic crab – to encourage Brits to no longer shiver at home to save the NHS, but get out and see “our beautiful country” on the cheap.
Shapps, who has been getting roasted lately for refusing to be a party-pooper over the Tory partygate scandal, is clearly continuing his role as a good sport by tapping into that every-Tory-energy, reminiscent of Michael Gove’s Gettin’ Jiggy With It magic in Aberdeen and Matt Hancock’s iconic 2019 Bittersweet (bus stop) Symphony video.
Metro diagnosed Shapps as having suffered “dad syndrome” in the “cringeworthy” advert which one Twitter user asked, “is it a parody?”.
#KayBurley – 75% of the public feel that Boris Johnson continually & deliberately lied… how can he remain in office as an honourable man… I guess you think he is an honourable man?
Grant Shapps – I do..#BBCBreakfast pic.twitter.com/mGLTUuXesm
— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) April 13, 2022
Michael Gove stunned revellers at an Aberdeen nightclub by “raving” on a dancefloor into the early hours.
Those who attended the club night said it appeared Mr Gove, who recently announced he is to divorce wife Sarah Vine, visited the venue alonehttps://t.co/xoEpkacT3d
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) August 29, 2021
When you're just trying to mind your own business at the bus stop… @MattHancock #GE2019 pic.twitter.com/RBNXXoOEvA
— Russell Howard (@russellhoward) November 26, 2019
Despite being casually attired in hoodie and tee, Shapps maintains serious dad-joke vibes in the low-fi video as he shows Brits where they can travel under the deal while clueing them in on what to pack. Puffer jacket for Edinburgh, sunglasses for Cornwall, binoculars for the Lake District.
The former photocopier salesman uses all the tricks at his disposal to sell the deal and it seems to have paid off. The video has already been viewed over 200,000 times and some Brits have said they’ve watched it multiple times.
“It is 9.31am and I have already watched the Grant Shapps video four times, please stage an intervention,” Yorkshire-based Dr Alice Lilly joked on Twitter.
Same energy pic.twitter.com/pUNgax7P7o
— Chris Marshall (@GYMarshy) April 19, 2022
It is 9.31am and I have already watched the Grant Shapps video four times, please stage an intervention
— Dr Alice Lilly (@aliceolilly) April 19, 2022
Can someone tell me that this video of Grant Schapps, or whatever his name is this week is a parody? https://t.co/OIJ1plpbbu
— Finneane Jewelle 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 (@carmarian) April 19, 2022
Grant Shapps here, looking like he's about to spend 20 minutes failing to land a kickflip before asking if you want to come get high and listen to Green Day pic.twitter.com/g9WpAsO3p1
— Alexander Brown (@AlexofBrown) April 19, 2022
Shapps mentioning the scheme in the same breath as the cost of living crisis has also not gone down well: “Are people supposed to burn the (train) tickets for heating or have you got any good recipes that use them?,” one person wrote.
In the video, Shapps says: “For the first time ever, operators across the rail industry are coming together to help passengers facing rising costs of living by offering up to 50% off more than a million tickets on journeys across Britain.
“There’s no better time to visit friends, family or just explore our great country, so book your tickets today.”
While people were quick to laugh – but perhaps not out loud – at the video, some have applauded Shapps and the Department for Transport, for putting out such a catchy promo.
Brilliant from @grantshapps and the Dept for Transport digital team. Other govt departments should watch and learn from this. https://t.co/uCMKetvJ89
— Iain Dale ⚒️🇺🇦.🇮🇱. (@IainDale) April 19, 2022
How has Grant Shapps done a better advert for getting back on trains than the people who run trains? https://t.co/vfk3PIjCJB
— Geoff Norcott (@GeoffNorcott) April 19, 2022
With tickets under the promotion only available until 2 May, the offer will have ended by the time many schools break up for May half term.
And it will also miss the four-day UK bank holiday weekend from 2 to 5 June, which will mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Related links:
- Train ticket prices to be slashed by half in weeks as Government address cost of living crisis
- Brits praise £35 Aldi cost-of-living hack that Martin Lewis says keeps you warm for just 4p a week
- Partygate: Cabinet minister compares Boris Johnson’s law-breaking to parking fine
- Welsh pensioner forced to light up home with fairy lights to avoid big energy bills
