To wish Sir Keir and his wife would not hold hands when working

[BeaQuiet]

They've arrived in Washington DC on official business clutching hands like the Macrons, the Obamas and the Sussexes.

AiBU to find it a bit cringey?

And before anyone asks, yes I do have bigger things to worry about but I fancy a chat.

The only thing I thought, to be honest, was that previous articles banged on about the fact she was keeping her NHS job, and I was slightly jealous knowing I wouldn't have been able to get annual leave for a quick jaunt abroad with it being summer and school holidays soon, so the department is either running short, or if just be dirty as hell if I'd had leave declined for the same time.....

You were the one that brought in (and judged) other people "like the Obamas, the Macrons and the Sussexes". In your OP

To be fair, the reason that people brought in anecdotes about them/their parents/grandparents was because others (not you) made the stupid and also very sad claim that no one, bar youngsters in the 1st flush of love, held hands

And I repeat, no one, but no one, has suggested that we would expect to see them holding hands in formal meetings (although someone did post a photo of Blair and Clinton doing just that - as well as Charles & Camilla on "official business" in all their regalia.).

In fairness, most of those comments were not in response to your OP, but to the silly generalizations made by some posters about the sort of people they think hold hands.

Of course they're people in their own right, why would you assume they're not choosing to be there of their own accord?

This thread is all about either a) I don't personally feel comfortable holding hands so I begrudge others doing it or b) I don't personally like the fact that leader won so begrudge their attendance.

It's a thread full of people who feel bitter!

She’s not front line, she works in an office, they don’t really “run short” they just catch up on the admin when they get back from leave.

I thought she was an occupational therapist? That’s front line, isn’t it?

@TimeandMotion- she's an occupational therapist, and there is only so many people allowed off at any one time, and others would have to take over the roles, same as any other NHS role, admin occupational health or in the wards- although I did think she was in the wards and with patients, happy to be told otherwise. Regardless, having part of summer off to go abroad with your husband, when other people will have had leave denied, I imagine would leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth though.

No, she is a lawyer/manager in the occupational therapy department of a hospital. The press are wrong when they describe her as an occupational therapist.

🙄

No no don't put it up bed I want to say that I hold my husband's hand all the time. He just put the bins out and I was there holding his hand lovingly and reassuringly and don't get me started on my elderly parents they never let go!

None of which is relevant to a PM disembarking a plane, getting snapped by the global press clasping his wife's hand looking like a little boy on his first day at school, about to wet himself and burst into tears.

Thanks @TimeandMotion. My point about last minute AL still stands. It's great to want and expect to keep your career, and it shouldn't have to be affected by your husbands new job, but the flip side of that is special consideration because if your husbands role, is going to irritate your work colleagues, who probably don't feel that they can't say anything

Regardless, having part of summer off to go abroad with your husband, when other people will have had leave denied, I imagine would leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth though

I imagine anyone with a modicum of common sense would understand. It's hardly like going on a girls holiday for 3 weeks and sod your colleagues. I imagine her role might have to change to some degree whilst her husband is Prime Minister.

It will be unpaid leave. Doesn't affect annual leave - or shouldn't.

Yeah but all politicians hold hands with their spouses, it’s the norm.

Did all the other heads of state also look like little boys or girls about to wet themselves while holding their other half's hands, or do you reserve your childish insults for your own PM because you can't handle the fact that your side lost the election?

None of which is relevant to a PM disembarking a plane, getting snapped by the global press clasping his wife's hand looking like a little boy on his first day at school, about to wet himself and burst into tears.

Well.... the pictures of BJ and Carrie desperately clasping each others hands on the beach at the G20 summit looks like she's about to take him off to build sandcastles and paddle his tootsies if we're going to make silly comments.

I don't mind that he won the election tbh. He might do good things, we'll have to see I just wish he didn't look like a rabbit in the headlights every time he's out in public. He's not steely looking is he. I just hope he won't let everyone, including his own side, trample all over him.

@Janiie "He is lovely. So articulate and pleasant never gets wound up or screams scum at people who disagree with him."

Rees Mogg was involved deliberately altering voting requirements to disenfranchise people who might not vote first the Conservatives - and admits to doing so

He illegally arranged to prorogue Parliament and lied to the Queen.

He show disrespect to Parliament by lounging on the green benches during proceedings, apparently sleeping.

He might be articulate and not get wound up (and I'll acknowledge that his concession speech was gracious) but his actions and motivations while in a position of power are repugnant to democracy and decent standards.

I wonder if Lady Starmer will hold his hand to take him to see the football on Sunday.

When he's finally finished jetting around maybe he'll crack on

'He show disrespect to Parliament by lounging on the green benches during proceedings, apparently sleeping'

What?! That's discusting. How dare he mock in the HOC they're all such a well behaved bunch .

There are some very sore losers around aren’t there @Houseplanter?

So, you don't want a new head of state to meet the head of the Welsh or Scottish governments? Or to meet with the city mayors (of all parties, not just his own) not attend the NATO summit?

In case you've missed the news this week, rather a lot is already underway in government with daily announcements of changes already effected.

I'm not sure you can say he's gallivanting on a beach or sunning himself. He been quite busy doing the things I would expect from a competent leader. Leading from the front, not directing from behind.

He is lovely. So articulate and pleasant never gets wound up or screams scum at people who disagree with him

Mogg is not lovely. He has utter contempt for ordinary people. I think you are on a wind up, janiie.

looking like a little boy on his first day at school, about to wet himself and burst into tears

Again, a wind up.

@BIossomtoes indeed there are

Are you enjoying your holiday, btw @janiie?

Eta: oops, got you mixed up with Clavinova. I am always doing that for some strange reason 🤔