First of all I don’t think that if he used compliments to gain a self-serving favour or advantage from another which is the wikipedia definition of sycophant that if would work in the context of the election.  I’ve done loads of canvassing previously, it just doesn’t work that way.

 Secondly I have to say that Nick is a Liberal Democrat, that means that in most situations he gets shouted down and talked over, think of the outrageous behaviour in the House of Commons at PMQ’s.  By definition he has to have developed a very thick skin.  We say what needs to be said, we take a position and plough on to the conclusion.