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

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.

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.

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

David Owen definitely

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!

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!

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!!

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

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.

"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.

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.

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

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. 😝

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.

Lord Heseltine's great-grandfathers are both buried in paupers' graves.

As he said it made him consider “the lottery of life, the role of chance and the kaleidoscope of events”.

maddyone

Do you mean Tony Benn *Maybee? *

I hope Maybe attended talks by Tony Benn and not Disraeli.

I met Tony Benn many times maddyone and yes, he would have made a great PM.

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?

Do you mean Tony Benn Maybee?

We went to several of his talks. The last one we went to when we lined up to get a book signed (I think it was called Letters to my Grandchildren and he signed it to my grandsons) I didn’t want to speak to him for long, just get the book signed, but he still chatted for ages. I met him another time and told him how cynical I had become about politics and he said to me, be critical but not cynical. He was too far to the left for me though and anti EU. Did you know he used to do Glastonbury every year?I found him more approachable than Heseltine who I felt I should curtesy in front of!

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.

But strangely Grannynannywanny many ladies loved him.

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

Like this?

Sex appeal? I'd think not.. sex appeal is different to each person. I'm more than a bit shallow, to me sex appeal includes those who are very slim, have a full head of hair, pretty skin, wear clothing well, very clever.

Charisma, presence, good orator, sensible --- hmmm, RS may be on that list. However, nobody else agrees, don't worry

I really liked Tony Benn. He would have made a great PM.

Joseann now that man is sex on legs. Delicious.

I don’t think our next PM needs to be sexy, but he/she needs to be, as Smileless says, a good orator and have a certain ‘presence.’