Rory Stewart. News night tonight....

Yep. Rory sharing his industrial loft apartment with Marlene Dietrich definitely beats Stephen Reicher's I've got more books than Mary Beard and Simon Hoare's studies in sepia.

Who s Rory Stewart ?

He was Secretary of State for International Development under May, stood in the Conservative leadership contest in 2019, subsequently resigned from the party and now lectures in politics and international relations at Yale.

Should’ve won it. He’s worlds away better than the person who won.

Less people would have died if he had. They are currently re running the speeches he made before lockdown. He was completely clear about what should happen, that it was inevitable it would happen and questioning the thinking behind delaying.

Polarbear I so agree with you.

Rory Stewart is that rare thing, an honourable politician. I agree, he should have won that leadership contest. Pity he didn't. We are so in need of honourable people in politics now.

I would like to have heard more of him. Emma Barton's interviewing style annoyed me. She shares the 'interruptive' (my word) style with several of the Today programme's interviewers, tending to insert her own interpretation of what the interviewee is expressing.

I liked him and I don’t believe he was given enough air time. An honest person who would have done good for the country with his military background. Forget the selfie and tie episodes.

I’m going to be controversial here… but honest… do you think it’s because he’s not pretty enough?? Really?? In this era of personality politics do you think the media would have shredded him for not being what is generally thought of as attractive? He’s smart, intelligent, has integrity, is cool even, but not pretty??? Does it matter? It absolutely shouldn’t of course but does it matter - to the masses??

I dont want to objectify anyone but I think he is attractive

No. Neither do I. It’s hard to ask a question like that without sounding horrible. But, is it a valid thought? Actually he does have a certain something… ?

I am not even a Conservative but I liked him too.

Far superior to the chosen one. Mind you most people are.

I heard him speak once "in the flesh" so to speak. He did talk a load of nonsense

To be fair, maybe it wasn't his area of expertise and he hadn't been briefed properly, and I do think he is an honourable man and we'd have been a lot better off with him in charge.

Galaxy

I dont want to objectify anyone but I think he is attractive

I remember Robin Cook saying ‘my face is against me’. Having said that I find Rory attractive and have done ever since I saw him in a programme about the borders and then read up on his history. He has so much more about him than Johnson. I’ve never voted Conservative but he’s someone that could tempt me to do so because I feel I can trust him. He’s one of those people that I feel that, if I bumped into him whilst walking the dog I could have a jolly good conversation with.

Are we saying that Johnson won the leadership contest because of his good looks...

?? well he seems to keep attracting women doesn’t he!? Doesn’t appeal to me at all.

I think that some are Ladyleft ?

I think he won because of a carefully crafted image, which is a slightly different thing.

I was very sorry he lost the leadership battler. Seems a nice intelligent man who has seen a lot of the world. And there's a picture of him squatting down in Downing Street to talk to Larry. What's not to like?

Polarbear2

I’m going to be controversial here… but honest… do you think it’s because he’s not pretty enough?? Really?? In this era of personality politics do you think the media would have shredded him for not being what is generally thought of as attractive? He’s smart, intelligent, has integrity, is cool even, but not pretty??? Does it matter? It absolutely shouldn’t of course but does it matter - to the masses??

Polar I think it does matter ( his looks are against him.)
On a sub level of consciousness looks do matter, which is why attractive people generally have an easier time getting ahead in the world of work, finding partners and making friends.

I wish I'd seen it. Really like Rory Stewart and wanted him to win. I wonder if Newsnight is on iplayer? Must go and investigate.

*I think it does matter ( his looks are against him.)
On a sub level of consciousness looks do matter, which is why attractive people generally have an easier time getting ahead in the world of work, finding partners and making friends.* Well that explains how the drop dead gorgeous Boris Johnson does it then, although I always think he looks like he's a bit sweaty and sweaty just doesn't do it for me.

Galaxy

I dont want to objectify anyone but I think he is attractive

To hell with looks, I think he's nice to listen to which to me is more important.