Could a woman who looks as scruffy and shambolic as Boris ever become PM ?

[longwayoff]

Bother, no vote available on this. Ah well. This is about appearances only. Not intellect, education or ability. I say never, impossible. All women judged on appearance first, ability second.

The difference between Boris dishevelled and Corbyn dishevelled is that Boris looks like he dressed for the occasion before getting drunk and falling asleep in a bush and Corbyn looks like he bought the dregs of the C&A sale.

Boris knows what he is doing, it's that concious scruffy to be cool whereas Corby either doesn't care or isn't aware which is uncool. I'm sure Boris knew what he was doing when filmed by jounalists in his... err... unconventional jogging gear. (Does Corbyn go jogging? My imagination can visualise him jogging in a retro 118 advert style outfit without irony )

Some people are naturally scruffier than others. One of my DC's has various crowns, partings and cowslicks in his hair that makes it sprout and means he's better with a long, heavy shaggy cut to weigh it all down not look like an aging toilet brush. Added to that he has a lean build so clothes sag off as he outgrows length long before width fills them. The other has better behaved hair which sits more evenly and is slightly more evenly proportioned so clothes sit better.

No.

Nor would a woman with his relationship and parenting history get to be PM.

We all know that there isn’t a level playing field to get into and progress in politics, for women, black people, gay people, people who are not wealthy.

Boris personifies that more than most, even Cameron or Osborne.

Shirley Williams springs to mind even though she was never PM

Never

Oh Shirley wasn't that bad. I remember when she moved to USA I thought, at last, she'll get her hair sorted out. And so she did.

Er well Theresa May was prime minister...her hair was better of course but sartorially they are equally hopeless and I think her poor posture and ott eyeliner probably evens out the effect of his messy hair so they’re about equal.

@SudowoodoVoodoo that made my chuckle

TM was known for ridiculous fashion choices and has hilarious public dance moves. Granted, she didn't last long.

No. Neither would a woman with as little morals as Mr Johnson.

Nope I doubt it, and as others rightly day especially with the string of affairs

I might not have liked Theresa May's outfits but she was never ungroomed.

Hillary Clinton has adopted that Merkel suit look - don't let the clothes become a distraction.

Has there ever been a prominent female politician with multiple children from various relationships (Obviously, it's harder for women to hide that! 😁)? Instead, people whitter on about Esther McVey's blowdry. Maybe she's cultivated that look to actively distract from the message?

I do think Boris' charm is wearing off a bit. At least with half the country. I was thinking when he met Nichola outside Bute House that if he fell over or tripped down the steps, people might not laugh in the same way they used to do.

And if Carrie turns out just to be his latest squeeze, there'll be less of the 'it's the 21st century fgs'. I don't think people will accept her in an Ivanka role, either.

Nope. Neither would anyone non white or from a working class background.

PP, don't think anyone expects female leaders to be beautiful, but TM was under huge scrutiny based on her appearance that simply isn't there with Johnson. I thought she always looked fine, neat and professional anyway.

I feel confident in saying that scrutiny would have extended x1000 to her personal life had she been involved in any of the behaviour Johnson has simply shrugged off- adultery, trying to arrange an attack on somebody, moving a much younger man into no 10 whilst still married. Andrea Leadsom tried to score a point off TM not having children, even.

Working class PMs. Harold Wilson. James Callaghan. Margaret Thatcher. John Major. They all came from working families.

All men, apart from Maggie.

Not sure Wilson or Thatcher could be described as working class.

I disagree. They both began life as the child of shopkeepers. Hardly clawing at the doors of Eton.

But Thatcher's father was the local Mayor. That's hardly a typical working class background in the style of, say, Alan Johnson.

@Jsmith99 - Angela Merkel is neat & tidy though.

I agree with the OP - women are judged far more harshly than men when it comes to appearance. I don’t think anyone would say people such as Merkel, May and Thatcher are style icons, but in my opinion they always look clean, tidy, well put together and business like. Boris always looks a state to me - female politicians wouldn’t get away with this. The press would go on and on about it.