I’ve reported on ministers visiting flooding victims – such appearances do matter

Trips to places affected by natural calamities can prove a distraction, but they let people know their problems are being recognised, writes Andrew Woodcock

Boris Johnson has yet to visit areas hit by recent flooding (Getty)

Boris Johnson has taken a lot of flak over the past few days for failing to visit flood-hit parts of the midlands, Yorkshire and Wales.

While TV footage showed streets that had turned into rivers and tearful householders wading away from their swamped homes, the prime minister stayed put in the government’s Kent manor house Chevening, venturing out only to attend a swanky black-tie ball to raise funds for the Conservative party.

The open goal was too much for Jeremy Corbyn to resist, and he duly accused him in the House of Commons of being a “part-time prime minister” with his “head in the sand”.