A £110,000 taxpayer-funded contract has been handed to a TV debate coach by the UK Government to try and improve the public speaking of Conservative politicians.
Graham Davies, who markets himself as “the Presentation Coach”, was awarded a £9166 monthly contract to act as a “trusted advisor to ministers” on May 22 – the day the General Election was called by Rishi Sunak.
It isn’t the first time that Sunak has employed Davies.
He first used the coach when he was trying to become a Conservative MP and has since drafted him in to help with party conference speeches.
Testimonials from various Tory ministers are already visible on Davies’ website.
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Michael Gove stated that Davies “is incomparably good” and said his “advice on how to sharpen my content and delivery during key TV and Radio interviews was absolutely brilliant and absolutely crucial.”
While Kemi Badenoch said he was “the best presentation coach EVER!”.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is also featured on the website.
He said: “”Graham Davies has an exceptional understanding of the challenges of speech making.
“He also understands how to focus speech writing efforts to get the maximum results in the quickest time.”
Jeremy Hunt is among the Conservative politicians who have previously worked with Graham Davies
It comes as Sunak prepares to go head-to-head with Labour leader Keir Starmer during a televised debate on ITV scheduled for Tuesday evening.
A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office told The Mirror that despite being drafted in immediately before the election, Davies would not be helping ministers during the campaign.
They said: “This tender went out earlier this year before the election was called.
“Graham Davies’ services are not being provided during the pre-election period.”