PA/Getty
Our politicians are clearly keen to prove they are men and women of the people.
So what better way than to get hip and down with the young people than by posing for the obligatory selfies?
It seems that every election campaign stop isn’t complete without several selfies as campaigners clamour for a self-portrait with their political idols.
David Cameron himself has admitted that he finds the craze “frustrating”.
He told the Spectator: “It is an extraordinary phenomenon and it sometimes makes part of the process of politics quite difficult.
“Everyone wants a selfie rather than to have a conversation, and sometimes that’s a bit frustrating, particularly with your party activists.
SEE ALSO:
- Nothing Says 'Awkward' More Than Osborne Holding The Flag Of St George
- Ed Miliband Insists 'One Direction (And His Wife) 'Have Nothing To Fear' From #Milifandom
- Labour Candidate Clive Lewis Apologises After Making Goat Sex Joke
- Ukip 2015 Manifesto: Here's 10 Priceless Policies From 2010 That Didn't Make The Cut
- 15 Cat GIFs To Distract You From The 2015 General Election
“I want to know what they are finding on the doorsteps, but actually you are too busy having your picture taken.’
But Cameron’s biggest rival seems to be enjoying a moment in the limelight thanks to his adoring fans AKA the #Milifandom.
An analysis of coverage on TV bulletins and national newspapers by Loughborough University found that Ed Miliband was the frequently reported election campaigner over the last week.
Academics are studying the main evening news output across six channels as well as prominent articles in 10 newspapers on weekdays.
They found the Labour leader emerged as the most prominent politician between April 16 and 22, overtaking the PM for the first time in the election campaign.
Politicians Selfies
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Ukip Leader Nigel Farage has a selfie taken with a fan (name not known) at the Thanet Beer Festival in Margate, Kent, as he continues his campaign for the South Thanet seat at the general election. (credit:Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
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Ukip Leader Nigel Farage has a selfie taken with a fan (name not known) at the Thanet Beer Festival in Margate, Kent, as he continues his campaign for the South Thanet seat at the general election. (credit:Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
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Ukip leader Nigel Farage poses for a selfie with a group of girls during a visit to Himley Hall, near Dudley in the West Midlands. (credit:Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
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ROCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 20: United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage (R) poses for a selfie photo with party worker Lee Jarvis at a polling station on November 20, 2014 in Rochester, England. Polls have opened and voting is taking place in the Rochester and Strood parliamentary by-election. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Peter Macdiarmid via Getty Images)
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Ukip leader Nigel Farage poses for a selfie during a visit to a newsagent in South Ockendon, Essex, on the General Election campaign trail. (credit:Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
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BROADSTAIRS, ENGLAND - APRIL 11: Ukip leader Nigel Farage has a selfie photograph taken with some boys as he canvasses in the Thanet South constituency on April 11, 2015 in Broadstairs, England. The party leader asked for help canvassing in the constituency 'as a personal favour' after polls showed he now trails the Conservative candidate as the election looms nearer. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon takes a selfie with staff during a visit to Corstorphine Pharmacy in Edinburgh, where she outlined how the SNP's anti-austerity plan will boost Scotland's NHS. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon takes a selfie with a supporter on the campaign trail in Edinburgh as outlines how the SNP's anti-austerity plan will boost Scotland's NHS while. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon poses for a selfie after she gave a speech setting out the SNP's plans to reduce child poverty, at Forestbank Community Centre in Livingston. (credit:Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has a selfie taken at La Lombarda restaurant as joins local SNP candidates in Aberdeen city centre while on the General Election campaign trail. (credit:Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has selfie taken after she gave a speech setting out the SNP's plans to reduce child poverty, at Forestbank Community Centre in Livingston while on the General Election campaign trail. (credit:Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
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First Minister of Scotland and the Leader of the Scottish National Party, Nicola Sturgeon takes a selfie with SNP supporters after launching the SNP General Election manifesto in Edinburgh. (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
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INVERURIE, SCOTLAND - APRIL 18: SNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond campaign in the Gordon constituency on April 18, 2015 in Inverurie, Scotland. The First Minister joined Alex Salmond to highlight the fact that only the SNP represent all parts of Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) (credit:Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images)
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Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon (L) takes a selfie photograph with a supporter in the street as she campaigns for the UK general election in the Portobello area of Edinburgh on April 22, 2015. Britain goes to the polls to elect a new parliament on May 7. AFP PHOTO / ANDY BUCHANAN (Photo credit should read Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANDY BUCHANAN via Getty Images)
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Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon (L) takes a selfie photograph with a supporter in the street as she campaigns for the UK general election in the Portobello area of Edinburgh on April 22, 2015. Britain goes to the polls to elect a new parliament on May 7. AFP PHOTO / ANDY BUCHANAN (Photo credit should read Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANDY BUCHANAN via Getty Images)
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ALNWICK, UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 13: Prime Minister David Cameron (R) poses for a selfie photo with a local man as he campaigns on April 13, 2015 in Alnwick, England. As the general election campaign enters it's third week the main political parties are expected to launch their manifestos. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Peter Macdiarmid via Getty Images)
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ALNWICK, UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 13: Prime Minister David Cameron (R) poses for a selfie photo with a local woman as he campaigns on April 13, 2015 in Alnwick, England. As the general election campaign enters it's third week the main political parties are expected to launch their manifestos. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Peter Macdiarmid via Getty Images)
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British Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader David Cameron (2nd L) poses for a 'selfie' as he meets with local people in Alnwick, north east England on April 13, 2015. Britain holds a general election on May 7 in which Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives, senior partners in a coalition government since 2010, will seek enough support to govern alone. AFP PHOTO / POOL / PETER MACDIARMID (Photo credit should read PETER MACDIARMID/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PETER MACDIARMID via Getty Images)
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PENZANCE, UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 23: Prime Minister David Cameron has a 'selfie' taken with party activists during a regional campaign launch in Penzance on April 23, 2015 in Penzance, England. Britain goes to the polls in a General Election on May 7. (Photo by Toby Melville - WPA Pool / Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
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Britain's Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron (2L) poses for a selfie with a worshipper as Samantha Cameron (L) looks on as they take part the Sikh Vaisakhi Festival at Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesend, southern England, on April 18, 2015 ahead of the general election on May 7. The Vaisakhi Festival is the most important event in the Sikh calendar and celebrates the birth Khalsa. AFP PHOTO / POOL / PETER MACDIARMID (Photo credit should read PETER MACDIARMID/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PETER MACDIARMID via Getty Images)
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Ed Miliband MP, leader of the opposition and the chief of the Labour party takes a selfie with a supporter after a Question and Answer session in London on March 26, 2015; He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Doncaster North since 2005 and served in the Cabinet from 2007 to 2010 under Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Born in London, Miliband graduated from Corpus Christi College at the University of Oxford, and the London School of Economics, becoming first a television journalist and then a Labour Party researcher, before rising to become one of Chancellor Gordon Brown's confidants and Chairman of HM Treasury's Council of Economic Advisers. AFP PHOTO NIKLAS HALLE'N (Photo credit should read NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:NIKLAS HALLE'N via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Ed Miliband, leader of the Labour Party, poses for a selfie with a supporter during the launch of his political party's general election campaign at the ArcelorMittal Orbit in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic park at Olympic Park on March 27, 2015 in London, England. Speaking before Monday's official start of campaigns for the May 7 general election, when Parliament is dissolved, Mr Miliband pledged to prevent further privatisation of the National Health Service. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images) (credit:Rob Stothard via Getty Images)
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Britain's Opposition Labour Party Leader Ed Miliband (L) poses for a selfie with a female supporter before launching his party's Manifesto for Young People at Bishop Grosseteste University, in Lincoln, in eastern England on April 17, 2015, ahead of a general election in Britain on May 7, 2015. AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFF (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:OLI SCARFF via Getty Images)
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Britain's Opposition Labour Party Leader Ed Miliband (L) poses for a selfie with supporters before launching his party's Manifesto for Young People at Bishop Grosseteste University, in Lincoln, in eastern England on April 17, 2015, ahead of a general election in Britain on May 7, 2015. AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFF (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:OLI SCARFF via Getty Images)
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BURY, ENGLAND - APRIL 02: Labour party leader Ed Miliband poses for a 'selfie' after a Q&A session at Bury Town Hall on April 2, 2015 in Bury, England. Mr Miliband took questions from members of the public ahead of the televised Leaders debate in Manchester tonight. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) (credit:Christopher Furlong via Getty Images)
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EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Leader of the Labour Party Ed Miliband has a 'selfie' photograph taken with a supporter as he visits Edinburgh as he campaigns in support of the 'no' vote in the Scottish Referendum on September 12, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The latest polls in Scotland's independence referendum puts the No campaign back in the lead, the first time they have gained ground on the Yes campaign since the start of August. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
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EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Leader of the Labour Party Ed Miliband has a photograph taken with a supporter as he visits Edinburgh as he campaigns in support of the 'no' vote in the Scottish Referendum on September 12, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The latest polls in Scotland's independence referendum puts the No campaign back in the lead, the first time they have gained ground on the Yes campaign since the start of August. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
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Labour Party leader Ed Miliband has a selfie taken as he meets Labour supporters in Ipswich where he held a members event and spoke to local media while on the General Election campaign trail. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
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Labour leader Ed Miliband, take a selfie as he meets passengers and passers-by at Sheffield railway station before boarding a train to Leeds where will host a Labour Party rally during his General Election campaign tour. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
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Labour leader Ed Miliband, take a selfie as he meets passengers and passers-by at Sheffield railway station before boarding a train to Leeds where will host a Labour Party rally during his General Election campaign tour. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
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Labour leader Ed Miliband has his picture taken in a hairdressers in Cambridge city centre today where he met shoppers after earlier launching his party's European and local election campaign in Essex. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Archive)
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Labour Party Leader Ed Miliband poses for a selfie with supporters as he arrives at Manchester Piccadilly station before boarding the party's General Election battle bus. (credit:Dave Thompson/PA Wire)
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Labour party leader Ed Miliband has a selfie taken with a worker as he arrives for a Q&A session at David Brown Gear Systems in Huddersfield. (credit:Chris Radburn/PA Wire)
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Labour leader Ed Miliband has a selfie taken as he leaves the Elizabethan Suite, at Bury Town Hall. (credit:Chris Radburn/PA Wire)
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Labour Party leader Ed Miliband has a selfie taken as he meets Labour supporters in Ipswich where he held a members event and spoke to local media while on the General Election campaign trail. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
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Labour leader Ed Miliband takes a selfie with staff during a campaign visit to Airedale Hospital maternity ward in Keighley, Yorkshire. (credit:Chris Radburn/PA Wire)
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Labour leader Ed Miliband poses for a 'selfie' photograph with nurses on the gynaecology ward, during a visit to the Conquest Hospital in Hastings, where he toured the wards and met staff. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
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Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has his photo taken with a supporter during a General Election campaign visit to the Thainstone Centre in Inverurie, Scotland. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 31: Nick Clegg (R), the leader of the Liberal Democrat party has a selfie photograph taken with reality television star Joey Essex after announcing the party's NHS manifesto at a press conference on March 31, 2015 in London, England. The leader launched the Liberal democrat party's NHS manifesto on the second day of campaigning in what is predicted to be Britain's closest national election in decades. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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MAIDSTONE, ENGLAND - APRIL 13: Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg (C-L) and local Liberal Democrat candidate for Maidstone, Jasper Gerard (C-R) take a selfie photograph as they meet with apprentices and local employers during a visit to Mid- Kent College on April 13, 2015 in Maidstone, England. The party leader is continuing to tour the country as he campaigns ahead of the forthcoming general election. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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CARSHALTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 13: Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg (C) and local Liberal Democrat candidate Tom Brake (R) pose for a selfie photograph after a visit to an art gallery on April 13, 2015 in Carshalton, England. The party leader is continuing to tour the country as he campaigns ahead of the forthcoming general election. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg takes a selfie with student Carianne Elliott during a visit to Richmond Adult Community college in London. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
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Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg, with Liberal Democrat candidate for Montgomeryshire Jane Dodds, taking a selfie with the family of Jackie Glynn (on doorstep) during a visit to Newtown. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
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16 year old Ewan Rowe from Solihull posers for a selfie with Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg during his visit to Parkridge Centre, part of the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust in Solihull. (credit:Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
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Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg poses for a selfie as he meets supporters at Mid-Kent College, in Maidstone, during a General Election campaign visit. Picture date: Monday April 13, 2015. See PA story ELECTION LibDems. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 01: London Mayor and Conservative parliamentary candidate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Boris Johnson, has a selfie photograph taken with a member of public as he launches the Conservative Party London Election Campaign in Mill Hill on April 1, 2015 in London, England. Johnson was joined by Conservative candidate for Hendon, Matthew Offord, while campaigning ahead of the forthcoming general election. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 01: London Mayor and Conservative parliamentary candidate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Boris Johnson, has a selfie photograph taken with a member of public as he launches the Conservative Party London Election Campaign in Mill Hill on April 1, 2015 in London, England. Johnson was joined by Conservative candidate for Hendon, Matthew Offord, while campaigning ahead of the forthcoming general election. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
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Mayor of London Boris Johnson has a selfie taken with a member of the public after launching the Conservative London campaign at Hartley Hall in Mill Hill, London. (credit:Anthony Devlin/PA Wire)
SEE ALSO:
- Nothing Says 'Awkward' More Than Osborne Holding The Flag Of St George
- Ed Miliband Insists 'One Direction (And His Wife) 'Have Nothing To Fear' From #Milifandom
- Labour Candidate Clive Lewis Apologises After Making Goat Sex Joke
- Ukip 2015 Manifesto: Here's 10 Priceless Policies From 2010 That Didn't Make The Cut
- 15 Cat GIFs To Distract You From The 2015 General Election