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.

This is the second thread I've seen today commenting in them holding hands.
As I mentioned in the other thread. This is not unusual at all. See photos of many other country leaders with their partners, holding hands. Spans countries, ages, sexes and years.

He had enough credibility to win an election with a 170 seat majority - did you miss that? Some people are really sore losers.

Quite. Boris Johnson was almost as much an international embarrassment as Trump.

Agreed it’s not unusual. But I wish that none of them would do it.

@ButterCrackers "I don’t know exactly- security, plane ticket, other travel, hotel, extra security in the foreign country?"

You think the plane that the Prime Minister takes to a NATO summit requires paid for plane tickets? Come on now, no you don't think that surely. And I imagine she's sharing the hotel room with her husband, and they'll travel to any joint events together.

As for security, she either has it individually (which costs the same whether she's home or abroad) or only has it when she's with the PM (when she's likely to just be covered by his security so not extra cost).

Like with many business events, it gives a 'family' unit type of presentation. Some businesses and some events like to show stability, unity, etc and attending with a spouse and/or family can do that to an extent.

Exactly. But flipping that coin, it means that if that's all they can criticise him about, so far so good.

It must be a bit mind blowing, especially as she seems to stay very much in the background.

I've no issue with the hand holding, it's nice, they seem close. I occasionally hold DH's hand and I'm definitely not the touchy feely type.

Look at how awkward Trump is. Looks like he just picked up a dog turd with his bare hands instead of holding his wife's hand. Perhaps it makes his alien lizard skin hot and uncomfortable.

Ahhhh... but KS has to be criticised because... ummm.... Labour won.

Are there any gay world leaders? Do they take their partners with them. Just a thought.

You do realise he won by default because people wanted the Tories out? Yes keep calling people thick… people with a low IQ tend to throw insults because they’re incapable of forming a rational argument. 👏

Talking of PDAs

Blimey, unclench!

He’s walking to an event holding his wife’s hand, such a none issue, I’ve held dh hand going into work things, he’s held mine and ice seen tonnes of couples doing the same

LOL @ApplesOrangesBananas - keep going!

Iceland had a gay prime minister, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, I believe. Her partner is photographed alongside her during this time. They got married whilst she was prime minister under new laws.

Leo Varadkar, the former Irish Taoiseach, is gay and his partner has attended events with him. The first results when you search are them meeting Kamala Harris and her husband on a trip to Washington.

An awful lot of people on MN ask for a 'handhold', don't they? Why should Mr and Mrs PM (or Sir and Lady) be any different?

I agree. It feels like the woman is an accessory rather than a person in their own right.

Not at all. I don't think this career in armchair psychology will work out for you.

The partners are people in their own right. And should not be dragged out for photo opportunities. They're not the people we vote for.

I cannot imagine how bloody awful this type of publicity is, for any of the partners. You can’t do right for doing wrong. You are wearing too cheap/too expensive clothing, if you hold hands it’s icky, if you don’t, you are clearly about to divorce. Your career, how you raise your family, your own family of origin, how much you earn, every single thing you say, your posture and facial expressions, what you are worth is all up for analysis and discussion and the job isn’t even yours!!! Fair play to all the partners because I wouldn’t do this in a million years or for 20 million pounds.

I agree. It feels like the woman is an accessory rather than a person in their own right.

It happens the other way round too. Male spouses accompany their partners if they are a country's leader.

Ireland had a gay Taoiseach, but his partner stayed in the background if i recall, i dont think we saw him much.