To wonder how much a party leader's looks might matter to the voting public?

[OneNight]

Many of my friends and family are talking about 'Cameron, Sturgeon, Milliband' and so on as if they were the party themselves rather than any policies their party is espoused to. I have often wondered how much it matters whether a leader is 'attractive or presentable' or whether a party's policies or deeds are what people vote for?

Attractive - no, not necessarily.

Presentable - yes. Very much so.

I don't even think it was so much millibands actual looks , as in features...he didn't ever look confident, that I think makes a big difference.

Oh good god, if politicians had to be attractive to get elected no party in history would ever have had any hope . Name me one attractive party leader in UK history... They're politicians, not models.

With Miliband it wasn't about how he looks because he's no less muppet looking than Blair was. He just wasn't very charismatic and I do think that matters a lot. The press also portrayed him to be feeble and a bit of a weirdo which didn't help, sheep believe that shit. I liked him and voted for him.

If looks do matter than Labour should elect Tristam Hunt as their leader without further ado!

Then why, if they're politicians and not models, is Michael Foot thought of as the man who turned up to the Cenotaph in a donkey jacket?

That's not appearance though, that's dressing inappropriately for an occasion and therefore showing a lack of respect.

My father laughed his head off about that tabulahrasa. He didn't worry about any lack of respect and certainly not after heading to an Oerlikon stark naked in the middle of the night because nobody had advised him to go into his hammock fully clothed.

It's poise and confidence that matter. The way someone presents on camera and under pressure is important.

It's not so much attractiveness or looks imo but an aura. I think David Cameron has an aura around him of being self assured and comfortable in his own skin..He looks like a leader. Miliband looks awkward and self conscious to me.

Oh I don't mean I agree, it wasn't a donkey jacket anyway, was it?

Just a shorter one than everyone else's.

I just mean that was an issue for more than appearance for appearance's sake.

It's more Charisma isn't it? I'll quietly admit I ... Er .... found Nick Clegg quite attractive but it means sod all at the end of the day. Whereas passionate rhetoric and apparent sincerity can make a person seem more attractive.

Sort of.

Having 'presense' and charisma is undoubtedly important. George W Bush was short, no looker and half witted but received masses of votes.

Having watched a documentary on him I got to see that he had 'something' although it wasn't good looks per se.

Cameron is too smooth. He's had good training though. I actually found Michael Foot's scruffiness quite endearing in the end.

I'm sure I read/saw something about facial symmetry being important as to how you were perceived. They had images as to how various leaders would look with symmetrical faces. (Like they had CGI enhancement as far as I could tell. )

I know what you mean. I was getting really pissed off a few months ago when people kept criticising Ed's looks simply because I loathe people being judged on that basis. However, I don't think he was the right person for the job, he didn't come across as a strong leader to me. He came across as a decent, caring person but not a leader. I think a lot of people felt like that.

Sadly far too much. Ed milliband would be a great PM and is an intelligent, passionate person but because he's a bit awkward people didn't vote for him. It's so weird and superficial. It literally doesn't matter to me at all what they are like in that respect or what the look like. It's about intelligence and policies.

For me Ed lacked gravitas rather than he is bad looking. I just would have no confidence in him at all representing our country at a major world summit etc. I am sure he is a really nice , intelligent guy, but for me he is just not a world leader.

I don't mind what they look like naturally.

I do judge on the hair and clothing choices. I have only their choice, behaviour and words to judge them on.

Nicola sturgeon is not attractive. But she carries herself with dignity without being aloof and she speaks well.

not much judging on old bumface's popularity

Not looks as such, but demeanour and giving off an impression of confidence. I think Ed's voice didn't help. Not his fault at all, but that speaking through his nose thing made it hard for him to come across as a confident speaker maybe?