Nicola Sturgeon-does appearance matter?

Oh I do think appearance matters, and I admire Nicola Sturgeon very much, but not her politices. She always dresses so well and seems a very confident person who seems to relate to ordinary people.
As a Conservative voter, I find Mrs May a problem as she seems to be trying and failing to be a second Mrs Thatcher. She always dressed so smartly and had a confident air about her, and I really admired her.

Oh come on Gonegirl even her best friend couldn't say that TM is as assured about every public appearance as NS is.

It is said in the media (if we trust the sources) that Mrs. May doesn’t trust her fellow politicians. She doesn’t do sharing. I think she dresses smartly but always looks awkward. She is tall but stoops (not a good look) and it makes her look uncomfortable. She gurns a lot. And has a habit of tilting her head to her right shoulder and staring when displeased.

Nicola Sturgeon by comparison seems über confident and totally relaxed in her skin. She is clever and relates to the public better than Mrs. May who seems wooden.

I'm not sure what Theresa May did before she was a politician, but NS trained in law and part of the success of the courtroom is being able to present confidently, sometimes with the scratchiest of details from the client.

She makes her public speeches without those clear panels which have your speech running on them. She does refer to notes in the Scottish parliament, but very briefly. She looks up and at the audience if they are in front of her, or turns to the questioner.

I'm no defender of TM, but she is a leading Tory (food banks, disability assessments, cruelty in immigration and social issues) who was Home Sec (not always the most popular job) and is under enormous pressure for mistakes starting with calling an election which directly led to having to bribe a minority party to deliver Brexit.

NS is the confident, smart face of a party which is still the leading choice of power in Scotland, despite proportional representation making the overall balance fairer than in Westminster.

She's our First Minister and deserves the same respect for her office as we would give to anyone who holds sway over our present security and future happiness. We had Labour First Ministers for the first 8 years of the Scottish Parliament and all of them are still respected for their views and demeanour, even where people disagreed with them. I would go as far as to say the late Donald Dewar was held in great affection throughout Scotland.

I am pleased you asked the question Trisher. It was lovely to see so many reasoned, sensible comments on the subject.

Everyone should bear in mind that, if Scotland ever does become independent, the elected government could be a rainbow alliance of different parties with a range of policies. Chances are, we'd be letting 16-year-olds vote again and I can't see us ditching PR.

Right now, one of the main reasons people are turning to the SNP is because they have steadfastly stuck to supporting Scotland's democratic (over 60% of the vote) wish that we should stay in the EU, while making visible plans to minimise the enormous damage leaving will cause us.

NS's confidence comes from within, but it must be enhanced by knowing she is doing her best by us. TM may believe she's doing that too, but she does not hold the hearts of her allies, party or the bulk of the country she leads.

Mrs May has the weight of the world on her shoulders! She often wears blue which us a cold colour. I'm sure that once this us all over (oh glorious day!) and she's safely retired, she'll look much better.

I don't know why my phone changes is to us!!

Because they are completely different people! Like offspring, same stable but totally different in ideas and attitude!!

seems some on here are still doing the personal insults when they cant find any REAL reason todislike her.The "wee jimmy crankie " tag is becoming old and worn.This YOUNG woman has and is doing a good job (I know you dont think so JANE) but the majority is still with her and the party numbers still growing .The grass roots are the ones leading the Independence movement ,Nicola is busy doing "the day job" while WM is tied in Brexit knots .Annie Nicola Sturgeon is the polar opposite of cold hearted ...she is the most caring woman as is shown by many of her policies and the way people of all ages love her ...and they do

I think Theresa hasn’t got over being taller than the boys. She stoops. I think she dresses well actually and clearly loves clothes.

I like Nicolas style it’s neat and smart

I think Theresa May usually looks very nice, although of course, she does sometimes seem to have the weight of the free world on her shoulders. Both of them look nice.

I think that Nicola Sturgeon may have taken a fashion tip from the Queen - wear bright colours so that you are noticed in a crowd. However, her shoes are nothing like HM's!

She always looks smart and neatly turned out and seems to have found out how to manage her hair too which looks the type of hair which needs a really good cut to be manageable.

Teresa May always looks nice too and seems to have abandoned those low-cut tops, and I suppose wears lower-heeled shoes because she is much taller.

Angela Merkel varies the colours but not the style - she has obviously found what works for her.

I think she wears bright clothes as she’s short like the queen so easier to stand out in a crowd as you say.

And what about the male politicians? Why focus specifically on what the women are wearing and doing with their hair?

Yes...I would.

MawBroonsback
I'm off biscuits and yup...sheer dumb-cluckery it is if you say so.
I'm absolutely fine with absolutely anything anyone says about me...you should know that by now.
They're only words and I know my worth. I'm unable to be touched by criticism.

SirChenjinn

I have seen threads here and on mumsnet about the male image of politicians.

We can discuss both. Image is important it lost Foot credibility with his cenotaph donkey jacket.

The sll fair game to discuss

There are a few - but nothing compared to the number of threads which scrutinise the image and physical appearance of female politicians and this comes up for regular criticism on Mumsnet as you'll know.

However my comment was about this thread. Why NS? Why not Leonard? Or any of the other male politicians? It's because women are judged on their appearance more critically that they are judged on delivery. It's 2019 FGS.

Or was this simply a pro SNP thread?

Why NS? well because I had just watched her on TV stride out and speak. And actually my original post didn't mention dress or hair. Just attitude and confidence. If others are more interested in that well that's up to them. It was the relaxed and open attitude that interested me. And she was doing selfies later without it appearng that she was doing it for the media. I'm not SNP although if they would just shift the border south a bit I might be.

To me NS is like a small aggressive dog, the sort that yaps a lot. I agree with some things she says, but can’t bear to listen to much of her voice.

Even if she is small, it is silly imo to wear very high heels. Far from making someone appear confident, it’s rather the reverse. A truly confident person would wear something more comfortable and less damaging.

PS I like her haircut, though. Just right for her size and looks.

Trisher - NS is a consummate politician who has been coached and polished to within an inch of her life, who is surrounded with people who fervently in a political ideology, who's polarised this country, lost a significant number of seats at the last election and still doesn't have a majority support for indy (if you accept that the opinion polls are correct - which politicians generally do if it suits their cause).

If you were watching her stride on stage on Sunday then I imagine you were watching the SNP conference? If you want some balance have a look at her on some of the Andrew Neil interviews or when she's facing Ruth Davidson at Holyrood- relaxed and open she isn't.

Ooo SirChenjin do I sense a little political bias?
If NS is coached as you say why do you think TM hasn't managed the same level?

I really admire Ruth Davidson - she speaks well and confidently and has done wonders for the Conservatives north of the border. She is another confident woman who seems happy in her own skin.

It looks like May and the Brexit fiasco might have dented her chances in Scotland, and I believe she has ruled out leadership of the party as she returns from maternity leave. Her career was in the ascendancy. I wonder if she has peaked politically? I hope not. Another likeable and able woman in politics.

Less political bias and more fact

I think TM has managed to polarise the electorate in exactly the same way, don't you? Or are you simply starting from a different position in your (politically biased) views of TM v NS which may have shaped your opinion somewhat?

Ah see where you are coming from then SirChenin come on don’t come into a thread and spout outraged feminism you really mean you dislike the woman for her politics.

I think Ruth Davidson very much I think she comes across as warm and very likeable. She has her own very nice style.

Confidence can he learnt and practised but doesn’t mean Nicola isn’t scared out of her wits in front of Andrew Neil. Who wouldn’t be