Tory MPs are shaving their beards off because they have have been told it is a turn off to voters

TORY MPs are shaving their beards off - because they have been told it is a turn-off to voters.

A string of senior Conservatives have ditched their whiskers for a clean shaven look in recent months.

One senior Tory who has got rid of their facial hair said he took out his razor after party colleagues suggested his beard would put voters off at the ballot box.

He said: “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.”

He said he shaved on the advice of some colleagues - and not because of an order from Tory head office.

“It’s not an official instruction from the head office. But it is something people say.”

A host of Tory MPs have shaved off their facial hair in recent weeks.

Home office minister Chris Philp, 47, has got rid of his beard, although he has publicly said it was because of a “negative family reaction”.

Tim Loughton, who grew enviable whiskers over Christmas but lopped it off shortly after MPs went back to parliament said Margaret Thatcher used to be very anti-beard.

He said: “That was always Mrs Thatcher's policy.

“She thought it was a turn off for the electorate.

“I quite often grow a beard over Christmas.

“A couple of years ago I conducted a poll asking my constituents - shall I keep my beard or not.

“At 24 hours to go it was 51 per cent versus 49 per cent.

“Then my wife rang around all her mates getting them to vote so I would shave it off.”