While many will be familiar with Flash Gordon’s iconic adversary Ming the Merciless, a new cult hero was born this week, Ming the Trouserless.

I couldn’t quite believe my eyes when a clip emerged of Irish MEP Luke Ming Flanagan addressing the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee in what appeared to be a shirt and little else, living out the nightmare of many remote workers. However, the Roscommon native took the incident in good jest and said he was wearing running shorts that were obscured by his shirt.

What viewers may have missed is Flanagan asking the European Budget Commissioner if the process of flattening farm payments could be sped up, an important issue for many Irish farmers.

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The Dealer is reliably informed that there was no such instances on the IFA national council video call on Wednesday although there were clear signs that the hairdressers have been closed since mid March.