The Lord Provost's £700 smile

Published on Wednesday 22 May 2002 01:00

EDINBURGH’s Lord Provost Eric Milligan has followed in the footsteps of Hollywood stars Catherine Zeta-Jones and Leonardo DiCaprio by having his teeth whitened.

Cllr Milligan, whose globetrotting to promote the Capital has left him on first-name terms with Hillary Clinton, Al Gore and Sean Connery, opted for a treatment which promises "a stunning white smile normally reserved for top celebrities".

The 680 process uses US technology to apply a gel which is followed by an hour-long blue-light treatment.

Cllr Milligan today said: "Politicians who smile are more successful than those who do not.

"Smiling is an important part of politics. You have go to radiate a positive message."

The makeover comes three years after becoming the victim of wisecracks as the "worst Fringe show in the city" after getting a pudding-bowl haircut.

City hairdressers were so dismayed that several clamoured to offer him a free styling.

Councillor Milligan became aware of the procedure after opening the White Dentalcare clinic in Lothian Road last month.

Britain’s longest-serving civic leader claimed to be "very pleased" with the outcome of the US-style process.

Cllr Milligan added: "This country follows America very closely and I’m interested in how American politicians conduct themselves.

"There was a time when a lot of Labour politicians used to adopt a kind of beatnik look and I can think of a few who used to deliberately dress down to present themselves to the electorate. But that’s not the style of Tony Blair and the New Labour party."