Nicola Sturgeon-does appearance matter?

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.

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.

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

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.

I guess it's in the eye of the beholder....

Thanks for all the comments. I think we all know that politicians have people who advise and mentor them to improve their public image, so I do wonder, if it has worked as some think for Nicola Sturgeon why on earth is Mrs May still as she is? Is she too old to change? Or is it something else that keeps her looking either shifty, uncomfortable and embarrassed or schoolmarmy and dictatorial. In other words why could NS change but TM can't?

I think appearance can show who you really are. She always looks neat and efficient. I did notice she is getting a bit of a tummy on her. (punches air! In commiseration of course)

Bien dans sa peau isn’t a physical thing at all - another example is Mary Beard

Good grief GG would you make the opposite observation about e.g.Afro- Caribbean people?
For sheer dumb-cluckery, that takes the biscuit!

Well a makeover makes anyone feel better. We all need a bit of help re hair and makeup.

Just as some Scottish posters here can't stand English politicians, equally there are those of us who feel the same about Nicola Sturgeon. In our house we automatically reach for the off button as soon as her shrill voice enters our eardrums, we value our hearing far too much.

Has she always been 'bien dans sa peau', though?

I seem to recall seeing before-and-after-the-complete-makeover photos. I'm not sure she was so happy in her own skin (or hair) before, or at least she didn't think they were doing her any favours politically.

Yes hear hear Maryeliza

Quite a racist remark

Well said Maryeliza54!

Well - better thin/mean lips than a thin/mean mind any day

Ooh my lips are thinning with rage!

What an idiotic generalisation, GG54. On behalf of my fellow Scots, I take strong exception to your unsubstantiated opinion.

Good grief what a silly comment re mean lips!

As I said I don’t agree with Nicola but I think she has dignity and gravitas. 2 things sadly lacking in most politicians

FFS * GG* - what I have noticed is a number of posters on GN who think making comments like that acceptable. The OP was about presence and speaking but why be grown up when you can indulge in childish comments?

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Both her and AM seem like women in the lovely French phrase ‘bien dans sa peau’. Comfortable with themselves and who they are. I found it heartening on this thread that so many posters could respond to the OP positively whilst not being ‘fans’ of what NS stood for. What I really respect about her is her commitment to the SNP from an early age and when it was not very successful. I think she stood for election several times before she was elected. She certainly didn’t have it easy on the road to leadership.

Little Jimmy Krankie springs to mind!

No, no Chewbacca! Don’t get rid of anything else please. A nude Jeremy Corbyn would be just too much.

But paddyann I haven't met the virgin Mary! Maybe she could run the country better?

And his Russian Revolution hat