L-R: Tory MPs Chris Philp and Tim Loughton have both sported beards (Image: BBC Breakfast/Parliament TV)
Tory MPs are reportedly keeping clean shaven because beards put voters off.
With Labour 23 points ahead of the Tories in the polls and the next General Election set to take place this year, Conservative members of Parliament are said to be telling each other beards have to go to boost their re-election prospects.
A senior Tory told the Sun on Sunday: "Apparently, beards are a turn off. I've lost count of the number of times people have said voters are less likely to back you if you have a beard.
"So it has come off. But it is going straight back on after the election."
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While Prime Minister Rishi Sunak usually appears clean shaven, ministers including Chris Philp, Home Secretary James Cleverly and senior Tory backbencher Tim Loughton all sport or have sported beards.
READ MORE Kemi Badenoch sends chilling warning to rebel Tory MPs plotting to oust Sunak
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Will James Cleverly shave off his beard before the next General Election? (Image: Getty)
Policing minister Mr Philp did a recent media round unshaven, though a week later he reappeared on our screens with a smooth look.
He explained the close cut as resulting from pressure from family after a "negative" reaction.
MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, Mr Loughton spoke in the Commons earlier in January with a beard, but the bristles were removed soon after.
He told the Sun on Sunday that former prime minister Margaret Thatcher had been against MPs sporting beards.
Mr Loughton said: "She thought it was a turn off for the electorate."
He added that a couple of years ago he polled constituents, asking them if he should keep his beard or not.
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Margaret Thatcher was reportedly anti-beard (Image: Getty)
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The backbench MP said the poll was 51 percent to 49 percent before his wife rang all her pals and the vote swung against keeping the bristles.
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It remains to be seen whether Mr Cleverly will shave or not in the run up to the next General Election, but some MPs who have kept their beards include former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and the late Labour foreign secretary, Robin Cook.
Lord Mandelson also sported a moustache earlier in his political career, while former Labour leader Ed Miliband's facial hair almost broke the internet in August 2015.
Meanwhile, Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham won the Parliamentary Beard of the Year Award last year, with Leeds North East MP, Fabian Hamilton, in second.
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