Initially, it is a soft, foul-smelling matter that floats on the ocean but through exposure to the sun and the salt water over years it turns into a smooth lump of compact rock which feels waxy and has a sweet smell.

BBC: Rare whale vomit found on Morecambe beach

That sort of thing scares middle-class voters, no matter how energetically Mr Latham struggled to soft-pedal his own party's policies.

ECONOMIST: Australia