Danny Alexander has been getting professional help to improve his public speaking – from the sister of the star of The King’s Speech.
The Inverness MP is reportedly receiving voice coaching from Kate Firth, the 51-year-old sibling of the famous Hollywood actor Colin Firth.
Miss Firth is a “voice and personal impact coach” who is understood to have helped her brother affect a stammer for his Oscar-winning performance as King George VI in the 2010 blockbuster movie.
Now she has taken on Mr Alexander, the Liberal Democrat chief secretary to the Treasury, helping him to deliver his message more effectively during several sessions.
The reports fuelled rumours yesterday that Mr Alexander is positioning himself as a potential future leader of the Lib Dems, with his close friend Nick Clegg under growing pressure.
The tutoring is believed to have been carried out on “a privately-funded or pro bono basis”, with no cost to taxpayers.
Miss Firth’s website states that “for more than 15 years she has coached individuals and groups in a variety of professional environments from theatre, film, politics the NHS and the corporate sector”.
In the King’s Speech, Geoffrey Rush plays voice coach Lionel Logue who helps George VI overcome his speech impediment to make his first wartime radio broadcast on Britain’s declaration of war on Germany in 1939.
A spokesman for Mr Alexander declined to comment yesterday.