Conservative leader David Cameron laughed off an incident in Cornwall today in which he was struck by an egg thrown by a student.
It occurred as Mr Cameron was leaving Cornwall College in Saltash after he had answered questions from students.
Mr Cameron took the incident in his stride and joked that the egg thrown was ‘the first of the campaign’.
The Tory leader, who has been followed by a Daily Mirror reporter dressed as a giant chicken, carried on in his witty vein by saying: ‘Now I know which came first - the chicken not the egg.’
Mr Cameron was probably happy that the egg only glanced his back before leaving most of its mess on his protection officer.
A 16-year-old male student was arrested in connection with the incident but was ‘de-arrested before reaching a police station,’ according to a spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police.
A spokeswoman for Cornwall College said: ‘We are delighted that our students had the opportunity to meet David Cameron today to discuss issues relevant to them.
‘It was a terrific event with some great questions and real interest in the election.
‘We are extremely disappointed that the actions of one student marred this otherwise excellent opportunity to engage students in the election process.’
The episode invoked memories of the 2001 UK general election campaign when former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott punched a protestor who had thrown an egg at him.
