Duncan Bannatyne, seaside czar

The Dragon has agreed to “lead a review into the economic and tourism potential of seaside towns up and down the country” as part of Labour’s plans to regenerate UK coastal towns (should the party remain in power).

The seaside-czar role is fitting, given Bannatyne’s love of the water. He served in the Navy for several years before receiving a dishonourable discharge for throwing an officer off a jetty in Scotland. He also presents Virgin1’s Seaside Rescue, where he aims to “rejuvenate our seaside resorts and get the Great British Public back on board holidaying in their homeland”.

According to an article in the Times today, Bannatyne accompanied the PM on a helicopter tour of East Anglia (he points out on Twitter today that “it was not my chopper, the Labour party chartered it!”). The pair then enjoyed a cosy meal of chips in Great Yarmouth.

Although Bannatyne didn’t elaborate on his seaside policies, he did tell reporters he’d been given the job of seaside czar because he’s “good at it”. Mystery solved, then.

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