Do politicians need sex appeal to be successful in these social media times?

Pantglas2

maddyone

But strangely Grannynannywanny many ladies loved him.

It wasn’t just the ladies though, lots of blokes liked him as well and what he looked like when he was jogging wouldn’t have bothered them in the slightest!

It reminds me of the Diana/Camilla thing - one stunning, t’other not so much…

Looks aren’t everything are they?

But physical repulsiveness is a step too far.

maddyone

But strangely Grannynannywanny many ladies loved him.

That’s because he has a very definite twinkle in his eye, he is not afraid to laugh at himself and I bet you he would be great fun between the sheets. 😝

Not sexiness, but a certain presence, a bit of 'something' about them certainly helps I think. And a good speaking voice.

Agree they need presence and charisma (which I think Tony Blair had, incidentally).. Reasonably good looks help, but there is no need to be devastatingly handsome. Obviously goo d clear speech..I suspect it is preferable not to be too short. Rishi Sunak loses there!

Robin Cook famously said he was too ugly to be PM.

I knew Harold Wilson slightly, via my father. What helacked in looks he made up for in charm. He was the sort of person who made you feel wanted.

I think Keir Starmer comes across as reliable and sincere..I wouldn’t mind seeing him in charge.

"I think Keir Starmer comes across as reliable and sincere..I wouldn’t mind seeing him in charge." Agreed.

After the Boris years what a relief.

Whethertomorrow

I was wondering (again) if politicians in these modern times need a certain sex appeal in order to be noticeable or taken to be trustworthy.

I know past male prime ministers have not always been an oil painting eg Harold Wilson or Winston Churchill but then they were not photographed as much with the limitations of paper newspapers etc.

Were David Cameron or Tony Blair successful because they were youngish and handsome. They had that little twinkle in the eyes that people might have found appealing. Compare to Michael Foot and his shambling appearance and his lack of success.

Keir Starmer, to my mind, looks boring and stolid and not the dynamic leader we need to get us out of this rut we are in.

Do you think a physical image is more important than policies these days? Love to hear your thoughts.

I'm puzzling over how sex-appeal makes you trustworthy.


Do you think a physical image is more important than policies these days?

... could be. I'm sure it would be a great distraction to focus on a PM's physical attributes when you're whiling the time away waiting hours for an ambulance, or trying to hunt down an NHS dentist - or even flat-hunting on minimal wage.

Keir Starmer, to my mind, looks boring and stolid and not the dynamic leader we need to get us out of this rut we are in.

I'm not actually a fan of Starmer, and I think we are in more than a rut - more like a ruddy great chasm - but I doubt his or anyone else's looks (which can be deceptive) will have the slightest impact on sorting out the mess we are in.

... Boris Johnson said he thought his government had been the most dynamic in recent times, and quite a few women found him attractive. It didn't end well though.

Politicians have sex appeal?
I suppose Churchill et al would not be sexy to us, but I'm sure someone found them so, some time or other!
I'll always remember my mother complaining that they always made a thing of holding babies & young children, and that she wouldn't take us anywhere near a politician! Lol

David Owen was the full package. Good looking, very intelligent, articulate, and a strong presence. Suave and cultured.
But I would say that, wouldn't I!!

Ooh yes Joseann I voted Social Democrat because of him and Shirley Williams. Jeremy Thorpe was another charismatic politician although that didn’t end so well…

I don’t often use the word repulsive about people’s appearance Casdon but Cyril Smith came to mind 😱 when I read your post!

Not sex appeal, no, but a strong personality helps. Nick Clegg is very handsome but not attractive as he comes over as weak and pathetic.
I think Richard Tice is extremely attractive and has charm too, plus I like his politics. Guess who I'll be voting for!

David Owen definitely

I don’t know why, but when I look at Keir Starmer I think of a budgerigar with a crop full of seed.

I don't care at all what a politician looks like. I just want them to be able to do their job well. I can't be charmed by good looks but am impressed with good character and intelligence, combined.

Jim Callaghan looked a nice chap, quite pleasant and honest looking, don’t know if he was.

Boris certainly had charisma. In her book ‘Diary Of An M.P’s Wife’, Sasha Swire said he was absolutely the best company to sit next to at a dinner party.

Flirtatious, humorous, interesting to talk to. Made you feel you were the only person he wanted to chat to.

35Primrose53

maddyone
But strangely
Grannynannywanny many ladies
loved him.

That’s because he has a very definite twinkle in his eye, he is not afraid to laugh at himself and I bet you he would be great fun between the sheets. 😝

Primrose haha 😁 yes especially when he was younger

Wyllow3

"I think Keir Starmer comes across as reliable and sincere..I wouldn’t mind seeing him in charge." Agreed.

After the Boris years what a relief.

A nightmare more like with Starmer in charge although listening to him would help to send you asleep.

For me, someone has to have 'rizz' ! (I hope that's how you spell it).

Not much of that about at the moment.

Although Starmer can be anyone you want him to be 😊

I think I'd be willing to forego sex-appeal / charisma in a party leader for the sake of them being competent and focused on policies designed to benefit the nation as a whole.

Handsome is as Handsome does.

I'm in the not sex appeal camp, but in Psychology, physical appearance, plays a major part. Let's face it if someone is appealing to your eye, your interested.
Body language plus voice adds to that mix.
Politicians all know that, they have to all go selection courses before their names are added to "the list" for selection so they are suitable to be put forward for election, that too is subjective.

Here's hoping the new breed are better?
In my my eye tho' KS just doesn't appeal to me..

nanna8

I don’t know why, but when I look at Keir Starmer I think of a budgerigar with a crop full of seed.

That’s funny.🤣 when I look at him I see a rabbit caught in the headlights and he always looks like he is about to burst into tears.

I still cannot believe he “took the knee” with Angela Rayner. Talk about demeaning himself. I expected it of AR but not him.

winterwhite

*Cossy*, yes Margaret Thatcher did have elocution lessons and the result was frightful. All those hwhats uand hwhites. She never sounded sincere.

It was indeed awful 😂😂😂

Definitely agree about David Owen, quite aside fromnhis good looks, he is the calibre of politician who would make me want to vote for him.

Why was it demeaning to support Black Lives Matter?

Hitler was supposed to have had immense charm, charisma obviously, but sex appeal?