George Osborne has admitted that his much-discussed new hairstyle is a bid to cover up the fact that he is going bald.
Yesterday, speaking at the Tory Party conference, all anyone could talk about was the chancellor's new do.
George Osborne's snazzy new hair
"No one was listening to a single word. Because we were all staring at the top of George Osborne’s head," former Labour Party and GMB trade union official, Dan Hodges wrote in the Telegraph.
Describing the new haircut, Mr Hodges wrote: "Imagine if you woke up and all your hair had mysteriously fallen forward. Think of those pictures you’ve seen of iron filings being attracted towards a magnet. The Chancellor's hair appeared to have become magnetised."
The Chancellor joked that the brushed-forward image, described by Guido Fawkes as a "boyish pudding bowl cut," as an extension of his economic policy - because he had "turned it round to stop the recession".
In a highly personal appearance at Tory conference, Mr Osborne also explained why he cried at Margaret Thatcher's funeral, described his efforts to maintain a normal family life while living in Downing Street, and revealed that his parents had voted for Labour and the Liberals.
The details emerged during an interview with Channel 4 News's Gary Gibbon at a fringe event in Manchester.
Mr Osborne told of his "comfortable London upbringing" as one of four sons of Baronet Sir Peter Osborne.
He said he "felt fortunate" that his parents were still together and his father's wallpaper firm, Osborne and Little, was successful.
The Cabinet minister, who like David Cameron has often been mocked for his privileged upbringing, went to top independent school St Paul's in the capital before Oxford University.
"Part of what motivates me in politics is I don't see why having a good education should be regarded as a privilege," he said.
"I do not think it should be extraordinary that someone can set up a business and it should be a success.
"That should be something for everyone."