Transport secretary Grant Shapps has again appeared in a bizarre PR video to promote the DfT’s latest work
Grant Shapps has starred in yet another video to promote the Department of Transport’s latest work – and there have already been some mixed responses to it.
The transport secretary is promoting the Great British rail sale in the clip, a sale which runs from April 25 until May 27 where people will be able to buy discounted train tickets. This new scheme has already started the new hashtag #greatbritishrailfail.
Shapps kicks off the 90s-esque clip (complete with bubbly background music) by saying: “I want to tell you about a great offer coming to you. It’s the great British rail sale offering over one million rail tickets at up to half price for trips.”
With a green screen behind him showing Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, which Shapps hastily puts a coat on for, then Cornwall, when he dons some sunglasses, then the Lake District, at which points he straps on a backpack, Shapps tries to describe all the charming tourist destinations in the UK.
The background starts to glitch (presumably on purpose) at this point, showing random scenes from the desert and from space, throwing Shapps off his script.
It then cuts to the minister in an actual train station, where he says: “We’ve had two years of living life virtually. It’s time to get real, and visit our beautiful country.”
As the transport secretary walks away from the camera and gets on a train, in a whimsical twist, a voiceover asks: “Where’s he going?”
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/FJmjw54wyZpic.twitter.com/CyPva6s905
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) April 19, 2022
This isn’t the first time the transport secretary has tried to set himself apart from his colleagues with his PR stunts. In January, he caused a stir while promoting his decision to cut down on train announcements – even though that’s not exactly a priority for many travellers.
It quickly earned comparisons to the 2005 political satire, The Thick Of It, which ridicules life instead the government.
With this new stunt, people have reacted with similar scepticism, pointing out that this temporary sale was not major reform the general public have hoped for when it comes to British transport.
You’ve got to wonder how much of the taxpayers money they spent getting Michael Green to do this. https://t.co/IxeR7F3RlD
— Oliver Milne (@OliverMilne) April 19, 2022
Someone tell the ministers that Zelenskyy-chic doesn't necessarily work that well outside of a warzone.
— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) April 19, 2022
I wondered what Barry Scott was up to these days… https://t.co/VIpT94K4Pj
— Sophia Sleigh (@SophiaSleigh) 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
https://t.co/7sPZbxaA6Qpic.twitter.com/GkCtGFnX8U
— David Penney (@DavidPenneyPRW) April 19, 2022
I'm really sorry to say it but he's just an elite poster, never misses https://t.co/qJbyWzq9DF
— Alexander Brown (@AlexofBrown) April 19, 2022
Is this like eat out to help out where we all pay for it later? https://t.co/s7k07HtCO0
— Mark (@marksmith1973) April 19, 2022
I'm loving @grantshapps social media at the moment https://t.co/H1ftdikXQQ
— Simon Whelband 🇺🇦 (@SimonWhelband) April 19, 2022
Is this a real video ? https://t.co/cUz8ylh2gr
— Moomin (@jocal3) April 19, 2022Related…’Where Is His Honour?’: Grant Shapps Left Squirming As He Defends Boris JohnsonGrant Shapps Admits Home Office Visa Rules Holding Up Ukrainian Family Coming To Live With HimGrant Shapps Says He Will ‘Block’ P&O Ferries ‘Brazen’ Move To Sack 800 Workers
