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

I dont think it was demeaning. I think identity politics are incredibly destructive. I also mistrust anything which is a mantra, it tends to halt critical thinking.

David Owen did not join the Liberal Democrat’s

I do think they need a bit of something.
I dont think KS has it.
Not sure Rishi does.

I would say Harold Wilson did. Met him in the flesh once. He had retired by then. Was relaxed. Had time to spare was my thought. Was chatty to my family.

Would we be talking about sex appeal if a woman were up for PM? ie making judgements on how bed worthy they were?

I personally am not talking about se x appeal at all.
Much more about a character.
Not like wallpaper paste.

Wyllow3

Would we be talking about sex appeal if a woman were up for PM? ie making judgements on how bed worthy they were?

Men would I expect, or Lesbians, 🤔

Which isnt to say they wouldnt be up to the job if wallpaper paste. But they may have to work that little bit harder for some potential voters to vote for them.

We are on the chat forum not the politics one, can't we have a bit of fun now and then.

Grannynannywanny this is the second time you have made me laugh out loud this morning. Thank you.

Casdon

No. I’m struggling to think of any British politician, ever, who had it. Actually I tell a lie, my favourite has always been Disraeli, who was quite ugly but had a certain je ne sais quoi about him.

Historically, David Lloyd George was maybe the most charismatic Prime Minister, famous for his sex life and when you look closely, there is a real sparkle in his eye. He could hold an audience and had some famously inspiring speeches.

Today, over the pond we have Trump who whatever you think of his politics he can certainly inspire people and hold them in the palm of his hand. Like Boris, he is not scared to look a total fool and is happy to portray that image at times because people like it.

From Greece there is a very charismatic and attractive politician called Yanis Varoufakis who I've seen a few times on Question Time and he is is an inspirational speaker.

These people all have or had the ability to attract people to them, being good speakers with magnetic personalities.

Just looking at my list, I don't know about Yanis but the others are all womanisers. Add to the list Clinton and Kennedy and there seems to be a thread here. Lots of charismatic politicians (especially in the USA) are or were womanisers. I don't know about Australia or other countries. Maybe that is what makes a great politician!

Wyllow3

Would we be talking about sex appeal if a woman were up for PM? ie making judgements on how bed worthy they were?

Margaret Thatcher was one of the most manufactured politicians ever. Her hair was lightened, her dress was supervised and her voice was lowered, all to make her appeal more. Was it sex-appeal? Well most MPs were men.

I admire politicians who stick to their principles, even if in doing so they are going against their party line, for example Rosie Duffield and the late Frank Field. Of course it doesn't get them anywhere but it tells me a lot about their character, they aren't lightweights.

I will settle for integrity - but I might be waiting a long time!

Margaret Thatcher was one of the most manufactured politicians ever. Her hair was lightened

Good grief! I'm speechless. Can't a woman have her hair coloured/lightened? That would rule out nearly every woman in politics.

What a fun thread😄
Good looks are an asset in any walk of life, so is charm.
If that were the only criteria for a PM then RS would beat KS hands down.
I never thought David Cameron good looking but he did possess charm so I read.
To answer the OP I really do think that looks matter now in politics and have done for a lot of years.
Robin Cook and Neil Kinnock, good MPs but found their looks and ginger hair against them.Ed Milliband slightly odd looking and eating a bacon sarnie in public badly, and was it also him or his brother holding a banana?
KS used to be quite good looking but hasn’t aged well and if only he would smile more! He actually has a really nice smile on the rare times he does.
Image matters more than in the past.

Laughed out loud at that photo of Boris, but have to admit that he's good fun, doesn't care how he looks, is continually roughing up his hair and generally doesn't seem "up himself".

This doesn't mean I'd vote for him.

Thanks for the photo Grannynannywanny

Sex appeal ? Politicians? More a big turn off.

Sparklefizz

^Margaret Thatcher was one of the most manufactured politicians ever. Her hair was lightened^

Good grief! I'm speechless. Can't a woman have her hair coloured/lightened? That would rule out nearly every woman in politics.

🤣🤣🤣

A warning to any woman - "Do not dye your hair, ask for style advice or try to speak proper!"

Twenty-five year old Labour MP Keir Mather certainly has it! He's handsome and distinguished looking and I think some women would vote for him because he's young and cute and some men would because he's gay!

He seems nice enough and down to earth.

Callistemon21

Sparklefizz

Margaret Thatcher was one of the most manufactured politicians ever. Her hair was lightened

Good grief! I'm speechless. Can't a woman have her hair coloured/lightened? That would rule out nearly every woman in politics.

🤣🤣🤣

A warning to any woman - "Do not dye your hair, ask for style advice or try to speak proper!"

Sorry Callistemon21 I don't object to any woman changing herself. But the changes in MT were not of her choosing. She was very much manipulated by men.
The "speaking proper" which was actually deliberate lowering of her voice after opinion polls was something that she denied. But there is evidence.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p079k6gg

I googled "good looking MP"
and got this

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/gallery-uks-top-ten-sexiest-1082409

Glorianny

Callistemon21

Sparklefizz

Margaret Thatcher was one of the most manufactured politicians ever. Her hair was lightened

Good grief! I'm speechless. Can't a woman have her hair coloured/lightened? That would rule out nearly every woman in politics.

🤣🤣🤣

A warning to any woman - "Do not dye your hair, ask for style advice or try to speak proper!"

Sorry Callistemon21 I don't object to any woman changing herself. But the changes in MT were not of her choosing. She was very much manipulated by men.
The "speaking proper" which was actually deliberate lowering of her voice after opinion polls was something that she denied. But there is evidence.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p079k6gg

That was a good idea.

I often hear women reporters on TV and have to mute the TV because the pitch, not the volume, of their voices actually hurts my ears.

A lower, more modulated voice is more pleasant to listen to. A high-pitched sound is off-putting.

Does anyone remember the PM of somewhere or another having his covid jab?

It's not necessary, but a handsome, suited, capable man in an immaculately fitting suit always brightens the day.

Do you mean this fit politician, MissAdventure? If so, he's France's Health Minister.