CONSERVATIVES spent £3,600 on make-up for Michael Howard during the general election campaign of 2005, it has been disclosed.

The sum spent on foundation and other facial products for the Folkestone and Hythe MP for his appearances on the campaign trail was only a fraction of the £17.85million the party spent overall trying to win the election.

But it reflects the importance all political parties attach to their appearance of their leaders.

Documents released by the Electoral Commission also show that the Conservative party spent £1.5million on leaflets to drive home its policy on asylum and immigration. Some criticised the policies as too right wing.

Meanwhile, the news that Cherie Blair spent the equivalent of £275 a day on her hair leading up to polling day has been described as "pretty extreme" by Maidstone and Weald MP Ann Widdecombe.

The former cabinet minister questioned whether it was worth spending so much on image.

"I fully understand why somebody wants to look their best, but I think it comes down to proportionality," she said in a TV interview.

Unlike Mr Howard, Mrs Blair had not actually been fighting the election, she added.

"Even if I were to look like a supermodel at the end of it, I wouldn’t spend that much on my hair," said Miss Widdecombe.

"I think these sums are pretty extreme. Margaret Thatcher never had a hair out of place - I bet you Denis paid for it."

Between them, Labour and the Conservatives spent close to £40million contesting the general election.