Gransnet forums

Chat

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

(190 Posts)
Whethertomorrow Fri 24-May-24 19:54:03

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.

flump Sat 25-May-24 15:35:16

Lembit Opik. Don't think they married though. Has 2 children by 2nd partner according to Wiki.

MissAdventure Sat 25-May-24 15:43:32

Yes, that's him.
We always get treated to revolting tidbits about their supposedly racey sex lives, which sound extremely tame.

MissAdventure Sat 25-May-24 15:47:26

There was the bloke whose girlfriend wore his football shirt, and was in the papers wearing it, as if it was uproriously naughty.

Callistemon21 Sat 25-May-24 15:49:13

MissAdventure

There was the bloke whose girlfriend wore his football shirt, and was in the papers wearing it, as if it was uproriously naughty.

It depends which team.

Neither of today's.

pascal30 Sat 25-May-24 16:04:27

I like Emmanuel Macron ... intelligence and appeal

Primrose53 Sat 25-May-24 16:09:05

pascal30

I like Emmanuel Macron ... intelligence and appeal

He likes older women too.

Sparklefizz Sat 25-May-24 16:30:36

She would have been arrested here - teacher and schoolboy.

Galaxy Sat 25-May-24 16:37:57

I dont know if she would have been arrested here back then, but she absolutely would be now, and sacked.

Glorianny Sat 25-May-24 16:48:18

flump

Lembit Opik. Don't think they married though. Has 2 children by 2nd partner according to Wiki.

He was with a weather girl for a long time-Sian someone??"?
Another one that has "something"

MissAdventure Sat 25-May-24 17:14:48

Really?
I suppose he must have, though.

Galaxy Sat 25-May-24 17:39:20

Didnt he cheat on Sian with the

Galaxy Sat 25-May-24 17:40:29

You see my phone was so ashamed of my celeb knowledge that it tried to stop me.
I think he cheated on Sian with the cheeky girl didnt he?

Rosie51 Sat 25-May-24 17:51:39

MissAdventure

There was the bloke whose girlfriend wore his football shirt, and was in the papers wearing it, as if it was uproriously naughty.

You're not thinking of David Mellor MP are you? It was reported he wore a Chelsea shirt when having sex with his mistress Antonia de Sancha. Later it was said to be made up but the scandal caused him to resign.

MissAdventure Sat 25-May-24 17:52:30

Oh yes, that's him. smile

MissAdventure Sat 25-May-24 18:09:57

He could wear stockings, suspenders, and a feather boa, for all I care.
He didn't have "it" at all.

Dickens Sun 26-May-24 01:46:13

MissAdventure

He could wear stockings, suspenders, and a feather boa, for all I care.
He didn't have "it" at all.

I saw him up close and personal.

He opened a shop in Richmond, Surrey - a tiny shop down a side-alley selling 'bespoke' shirts, and worked in it himself. I was peering through the window at the neatly arranged goods when suddenly his face loomed up - he'd been placing a shirt strategically in the window. He was wearing the most enormous glasses.

The shop didn't last very long.

CocoPops Sun 26-May-24 02:37:13

I find Keir Starmer 's intelligence appealing.

Joseann Sun 26-May-24 06:47:51

I find it a bit ironic that Starmer chose to be a pin up for Vogue, a glossy fashion magazine for affluent, fashion-loving 30 - 40 year old wealthy women. The magazine is all about catwalk shows and expensive handbags. Maybe he himself thinks he has sex appeal?

pascal30 Sun 26-May-24 07:59:01

Joseann

I find it a bit ironic that Starmer chose to be a pin up for Vogue, a glossy fashion magazine for affluent, fashion-loving 30 - 40 year old wealthy women. The magazine is all about catwalk shows and expensive handbags. Maybe he himself thinks he has sex appeal?

It's certainly a weird choice for a labour MP.. he's rather right of middle I think..

Chestnut Sun 26-May-24 09:12:51

pascal30 Keir Starmer is further left than Corbyn which I think we will soon find out. He also doesn't know what a woman is.

Dickens Sun 26-May-24 09:27:37

Joseann

I find it a bit ironic that Starmer chose to be a pin up for Vogue, a glossy fashion magazine for affluent, fashion-loving 30 - 40 year old wealthy women. The magazine is all about catwalk shows and expensive handbags. Maybe he himself thinks he has sex appeal?

I'd imagine that any party leader would jump at the opportunity to sell himself and his party to a wider audience, whichever side of the track they are from.

'Class' is complex: it's no longer "us" and "them" is it? Both Labour and Conservatives have to appeal to as wide an audience as possible as both profess to be working for the people, the country, as a whole rather than the narrow confines of rich or poor.

I don't find Starmer on the cover of Vogue any more strange than seeing Boris Johnson when he was campaigning being photographed wearing a Tesco high-viz jacket carrying a tray of groceries.

Why would Starmer not want to win over 30 - 40 year old affluent women who buy expensive handbags?!

Dickens Sun 26-May-24 09:30:47

Chestnut

pascal30 Keir Starmer is further left than Corbyn which I think we will soon find out. He also doesn't know what a woman is.

Keir Starmer is further left than Corbyn...

Is he?

How?

pascal30 Sun 26-May-24 09:48:35

Dickens

Joseann

I find it a bit ironic that Starmer chose to be a pin up for Vogue, a glossy fashion magazine for affluent, fashion-loving 30 - 40 year old wealthy women. The magazine is all about catwalk shows and expensive handbags. Maybe he himself thinks he has sex appeal?

I'd imagine that any party leader would jump at the opportunity to sell himself and his party to a wider audience, whichever side of the track they are from.

'Class' is complex: it's no longer "us" and "them" is it? Both Labour and Conservatives have to appeal to as wide an audience as possible as both profess to be working for the people, the country, as a whole rather than the narrow confines of rich or poor.

I don't find Starmer on the cover of Vogue any more strange than seeing Boris Johnson when he was campaigning being photographed wearing a Tesco high-viz jacket carrying a tray of groceries.

Why would Starmer not want to win over 30 - 40 year old affluent women who buy expensive handbags?!

Perhaps we have a different understanding of integrity. It seems he wants to be all things to everyone. I lament losing Caroline Lucas.. now there was true integrity..

Patsy70 Sun 26-May-24 10:03:06

MissAdventure

He could wear stockings, suspenders, and a feather boa, for all I care.
He didn't have "it" at all.

Oh, no! Can you imagine it? I found him quite repulsive, along with Cyril Smith. 😱 We need a PM who is honest, extremely intelligent, has integrity, eloquent, confident, a smart dresser, a strong leader ……….. So many requirements, but I don’t see these in any contender.

lily64 Sun 26-May-24 10:08:09

Any chance him visiting Kent soon