The ice bucket was minus a bottle, but otherwise full, as its contents splashed over Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott at a pop and rock music awards ceremony in London this week.
Cool Britannia may be the image the government loves - but soaking ministers is definitely not meant to be part of it.
But such are the travails of appearing at the same venue as hundreds of pop and rock stars. If you try to let their fame and popularity brush off on to you then you must take the flak that comes with it. Labour's love affair with showbiz has definitely gone wrong.
When Mr Prescott this week took one of the head tables at the annual celebration of the British rock and pop business - the Brit Awards - he gambled and lost.
Mr Prescott was, to be fair, rightly appalled at his treatment. In a statement, he described the incident as 'deplorable' and 'totally unacceptable public behaviour'.
He tussled with Danbert Nobacon from the band Chumbawamba after the musician leapt on to the table he was sharing with his wife Pauline and other guests.
It is easy to dismiss such an incident as a publicity stunt. But that would be too simple. No, the surprise was the number of rock stars who came forward afterwards - not to condemn the water-throwing incident, but to condemn politicians for trying to get in on their act.
