The Top 10: Politician Painters

Leaders who were handy with a brush

‘We shall paint them on the beaches, we shall paint them on the landing grounds...’ (Getty)

Sean O’Grady suggested this one, after Boris Johnson’s interview in which he said his hobby was painting: “I get old wooden crates, and then I paint them and – suppose it’s a box that has been used to contain two wine bottles and it will have a dividing thing – I turn it into a bus.”

1. Joseph Beuys, co-founder of the German Green party in 1980. Performance artist, sculptor, painter. Nominated by No Ordinary Cat.

2. George W Bush was easily the most popular nomination, suggested by, among others, Tim Almond, Spinning Hugo, Peter Walker, Chris Deerin, Richard Morris and Robert Wright.

3. Winston Churchill. “Churchill was a rotten painter. Rotten! Hitler, there was a painter. He could paint an entire apartment in one afternoon. Two coats.” Dialogue from The Producers, via Patrick O’Flynn.

4. James Clunie, Labour MP 1950-59, was a house painter and decorator, a member of the Scottish Painters’ Society, a trade union representing painters and decorators in Scotland. Thanks to BD Alexander.

5. Dwight Eisenhower, 1953-61. Nominated by Philip Collins and Andrew Ratcliffe. Ulysses S Grant and Jimmy Carter also dabbled, but that’s enough American presidents.

6. Francisco Franco, dictator of Spain 1936-75. From Chris Jones and Peter Metcalfe.

7. Denis Healey. Better known for his photography, but also painted. Thanks to David Boothroyd and Pete Moorey.

8. Adolf Hitler. Would the Second World War have happened if Hitler had been accepted by art college?

9. Raphael, 1483-1520. If the Groom of the Chamber to the Pope is a political appointment, said Emmabella Murray. Of course it is.

10. Peter Thorneycroft, chancellor of the exchequer, 1957-58. Thanks to Simon Tilbrook.

Ken Ferrett nominated himself: “I carried on working as a painter/signwriter in Portsmouth dockyard while I was a city councillor: Labour 2012-15; Independent 2015-16.”

Next week: Songs with a year in the title, such as “1984”, David Bowie, and “Disco 2000”, Pulp.

Coming soon: Catchphrases that came back to bite their author.

Your suggestions please, and ideas for future Top 10s, to me on Twitter, or by email to top10@independent.co.uk