Politician's Spouses - do they matter to the public?

[Earlybird]

As Cherie Blair is "the story" in the newspapers this morning, it's got me wondering whether she is an asset or liability to Tony Blair from a political perspective. Clearly, she's an accomplished professional (curious to know if anyone here has met her/had dealings with her?), but she also, IMO is becoming increasingly unlikeable as more of her personality emerges without the benefit of carefully screened PR and spin doctors. Of course, it's true that a media generated view of her might not be accurate, but she seems a bit of a loose cannon with her various lifestyle gurus, questionable property deals, ill judged public comments, etc. Or has she simply gotten a raw deal from the media? What's your opinion of her?

And, thinking about politician's spouses in general, does it have any bearing on their public reputation/success? Cetainly we've seen many profiles on Sandra Howard, Ffion Hague, and are seeing more of Sarah Brown so they are clearly viewed as assets to staid public figures....Does a likeable spouse make any difference to a politician's career/public profile?

i don't think so really, apart from maybe as a figure of fun, i mean dennis didn't really do much when maggie was in charge did he.

I have always loathed the woman from the moment she opened the door of No 10 looking like some old bag lady. She is utterly dreadful. Refusing to curtsy to the queen ffs. Whatever your politics there is no need to be rude and that is what CB is: rude, vulgar, grasping, undignified.

As far as politicians spouses go - they are a mirror of the politician arn't they? Of course it is important that we know if they are principled and decent people.

I've met CB at a charity event a couple of years back.
She is a highly intelligent charismatic and funny lass. I really liked her.
I hate politicians wives who linger in the shadows looking pretty and holding tea parties. I like the ones with balls like Hailary Clinton and Cherie Blair who are in truth far more accomplished than their husbands

Go Cherie. Any bad press for Gordon is good for the country.

You've got that right, Uwila.

"Vulgar".

So snobbish.

No, I don't think we SHOULD take that much notice of MPs spouses. You don't get judged in your job because of who your spouse is do you?

But unfortunately this world where everyone can become a celebrity encourages people like Cherie to exploit it.

I think Dennis Thatcher and Norma Major did it right (and for balance Edna Healey). Stay in the background, be supportive to your spouse while they are in the public eye, be there even more when the spotlight fades. If you want to be famous, do it on your own, not trailing along behind, being an embarrassment (re yesterday's outburst, and the issues of the 'gifts' in Australia, and the money grabbing speaking tour in the USA).

becky, it isn't snobbish to say someone is vulgar if they are vulgar.

Somehow it is an insult that really sets my teeth on edge.

depends whether it is an insult or an observation.

"I have always loathed the woman from the moment she opened the door of No 10 looking like some old bag lady. She is utterly dreadful. Refusing to curtsy to the queen ffs. Whatever your politics there is no need to be rude and that is what CB is: rude, vulgar, grasping, undignified."

I'm thinking insult...

I don't see why she has to stay in the background. She is a highly intelligent, articulate women in her own right. She shouldn't be gagged just for who she is married to. Are you defined by who your spouse is? Why should she?

And I don't think I'd curtsey to the Queen. Whats that got to do with anything? That doesn't equal vulgar in my book, it equals common sense.

If she has republican leanings, and I suspect she does, it would be hypocritical to curtsey to the Queen. It's not rude. Telling her to bog off would be rude.

Niceglasses

There is nothing stopping her persuing her own career (and a very good career it seemed to be). But she seems to have put her own career on hold. She only gets the publicity she gets when she is "Tony Blair's wife". She has published a book about being the spouse of the PM ffs. Thats what her US lecture tour was about.

She gets asked to do most things because she is Cherie Blair, not as the lawyer Cherie Booth.

Dennis Thatcher was a successful and talented businessman. He quietly accompanied Margaret on official business. He didn't play to the press, he didn't make out-of-place comments, he didn't "try to get noticed"

It is Cherie who is defining herself by who her husband is.

I couldn't give a stuff about Cherie B tbh - personally I don't like her, but I think she is entitled to say exactly what she wants about whaterver she wants and good on her. She should use her position to speak out on whatever issues she choooses and not be confined or defined by being married to Blair. Maybe Dennis whould have been better to open his mouth and give his own view at times. Those who stay in the background and make the bloody tea have got no room to criticise and carp and say I told you so later on. Maybe if Dennis had asked Maggie to step down earlier he would have saved her a lot of embarrassment and heartache.

I loathe what Cheire Blair said yesterday, esp if she really wants to see a 4th term, but I defend her right to say it.

Sorry if you feel that I have been insulting to CB, Becky. Whilst it was totally my intention to slag her off I also believe that she is vulgar.

For your information vulgar is defined thusly: coarse; lacking refinement or cultivation or taste; "he had coarse manners but a first-rate mind"; "behavior that branded him as common"; "an untutored and uncouth human being"; "the vulgar display of the newly rich". To me it just sums her up, esp the last.

As for curtseying to the Queen, she is our head of state, like it or not. She should be acknowleged as such, not only because she works her arse off as a superb diplomat and representative of GB but also because she is the embodiment of Great Britain. She is also Defender of the Faith - quite an important position to hold. I guess CB wouldn't lower herself to curtsey to the Pope either, though doubtless she would to whoever it is that is head of Islam, just for diplomatic reasons of course.

For my information....

Thanks.

You have a lovely turn of phrase.

Ahhhh, thanks, you're too kind.

Actually Cherie is a Catholic.

'works her arse off'. Matter of opinion there. I think I might have to disagree. If she worked 7 - 7 each day to keep heads above water I might have more respect.

I can't believe on the back of this that some pundits are actually, in all seriousness considering that Cherie "Freeloader" Blair would make a good PM. Are they insane? Is one mad woman PM not enough in a lifetime?

She is a ridiculous woman regardless of what her job is.

So by that Niceglasses, I assume that you have no respect for anyone that doesn't work from 7am to 7pm everyday?

I have respect for pple who earn their own money - I have respect for pple who deserve it. I have a lot more respect for a lot more pple than the Queen. I doubt very much she 'works her arse off'. I'm sure she is a good person, but you don't get respect with a title. You get respect by earning it. I don't see why I should have more respect for her than I should have for say, a single mum with 2 kids going through a divorce and working. Why should I?

I think you will find that the Queen does earn her own money, in the same way that a politician earns his own money. The Queen is very deserving of our respect - she is only rarely off duty and she does enormous amounts of work behind the scenes for Britain.

I think your biggest gripe against her is that she was born into wealth and privilege?