The art of the politician's kiss

Samantha Cameron and Tony Blair, July 2012. Sam Cam: "Oh, let’s face it – we both go home and kiss worse." Photograph: Rupert Hartley/Rex Features Harriet Harman, Ed Balls and Ed Miliband, Labour party conference, 2011. Ed Miliband: "David? David? I can’t watch this. You can have the job. Take it, take it for Christ’s sake man, before my eyes implode." Photograph: Eddie Mulholland/Rex Features The Obamas and the Camerons at the White House, March 2012. Sam Cam: "OMG! If David gets to kiss her that means I get to kiss … OMG, OMG! Just try and stay cool, Sammy girl! Stay cool!" Photograph: Rex Features Photograph: Rex Features Michelle Obama and Gordon Brown, 2009. Brown: "OK, I think I’ve got it now. Grasp arm, lean forward, smile, close eyes, peck. Right, once more with this, Michelle doll, and then I’m good to go." Photograph: Philippe Wojazer/Reuters Angela Merkel greets Barack Obama, May 2012. Merkel: "Finally the Germans get to make love, not war." Photograph: Charles Dharapak/AP Vladimir Putin and Abdelaziz Bouteflika, February 2008. Putin: "Mostly I crush puppies. But today, just Algerian presidents. Zdravstvujtye , Abdelaziz Bouteflika!" Photograph: Sergei Ilnitsky/AFP/Getty Images Putin and Metropolitan Laurus, 2007. Putin: "I like your beard. I will have one of the Spetsnaz skin you later so I can wear it as ornament befitting great Russian leader. I’m kidding, just kidding! I’m not kidding." Photograph: Dima Korotayev/Epsilon/Getty Images