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Original poster

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

54 replies

Earlybird · 26/09/2006 09:25

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?

OP posts:
niceglasses · 27/09/2006 09:29

The original pt was re the so called 'rudeness of CB not curtseying to Queen. My pt is its not rude because the Queen is not more deserving of my respect than a lot of other pple whom I don't curtsey to either. And yes, born into wealth and privelege. If she hadn't been I doubt we would ever have heard of her. Why should I have more respect for her than anyone else leading a normal life? Because she has more money, more pple to help her, bigger houses, more access to everything. Bollocks. .

mancmum · 27/09/2006 09:54

totally agree -- respect is earned and not provided by default at birth.... I would never ever curtsey to anyone... but I have huge amounts of respect for some people that I would have no problem expressing on my own terms...

Whilst I agree the Queen probably puts in the hours, she does not automatically in my book earn respect for it..

I personally think to call CB "rude, vulgar, grasping, undignified" is totally unjustifed unless of course you know her as a personal friend...

Callisto · 27/09/2006 11:34

So a person born into wealth and privilege can't be respected? Oh come on. CB was rude. It is acknowleged protocol to curtsey to the Queen and as the PM's wife she should have done so. CB obviously only has respect for herself as she has been seen on countless occasions yawning, gurning and looking bored. She is a disgrace and the sooner she f**ks off into lecture circuit land the better. I am completely justified in calling her vulgar, grasping, rude and undignified as she is all of these things. She is also churlish, petty, greedy and aquisitive.

Original poster
Earlybird · 27/09/2006 11:55

We hear regularly what an accomplished and successful QC CB is, but somehow I can't reconcile it with the tactless, impulsive, indiscreet person we see via the media. She certainly doesn't appear to be someone of great intellect, so I find it difficult to grasp that she is so skilled and respected professionally.

OP posts:
niceglasses · 27/09/2006 13:11

Well, I think we have to agree to disagree. I'm sure the Queen is fine, but I don't believe I have to curtsey to her. I'd rather curtsery to Bob Geldof or the man down the road selling the Big Issue. The only thing is, they probably wouldn't want me to. I don't give a stuff about CB, like I said earlier, don't really like her, but I defend her right to say what she wants and I defend her right not to curtsey to someone just because they have the title of 'Queen' and are rolling in dosh ( a percentage of which is ours)

Piffle · 27/09/2006 13:15

Cherie Blair is Catholic so the Pope would get a suitable greeting
Actually TB being PM probably was the factor that afffected CB's career as much as anything - she was slagged off for putting contentious human rights cases against the government as a QC, so she steps back after the birth of Leo and does the PM's wife bit
Can she win either bloody way

Hallgerda · 27/09/2006 13:50

I agree with clumsymum.

I have some sympathy for Cherie Blair - if the press are watching you all the time, you are bound to be caught pulling faces at some point. But then she didn't have to encourage the whole American-style "First Lady" business in the first place.

clumsymum · 27/09/2006 18:53

Niceglasses
"I'm sure the Queen is fine, but I don't believe I have to curtsey to her"

Actually niceglasses, protocol dictates that you would curtsey if presented to the Queen. People who are formally introduced to her are given a short introduction on the correct way to conduct themselves, to show that they are at least well mannered.

Not to observe those traditional niceties is just utterly impolite. Just like entering a japanese home without removing your shoes. Just like not responding when someone holds out their right hand to shake hands. just like forgetting to thank someone after you have been to their home for dinner or a party.

Fine, if you don't feel you want to observe the conventional politeness of being in the Queen's presence, then don't be there. Which is what Cherie Blair should have chosen. To be somewhere else.

Not to attend and then deliberately snub. That was vulgar.

I'm 190% with callisto on this one.

LittleSarah · 27/09/2006 19:00

Sounds like a good idea clumsymum, I certainly wouldn't want to curtsey to the Queen but I wouldn't want to meet her either.

niceglasses · 27/09/2006 19:03

I'm a bit lost now. I don't know how we got from CB and respect and the Queen to not showing respect to a Japenese person. I am polite, I would observe those traditions, but I'm not going to trump up some respect for someone I have no more respect for than the next, and probably less tbh. I wouldn't go no, but thats not the point. I still don't think CB is rude either - she is just her own woman - not allowed it seems. Lets get the tea on then eh? Nice traditional role.

mancmum · 27/09/2006 19:18

I can only summarise from this that Calisto is either the Queen or has come off the worse for an encounter with CB as I have never read such vitriol about one person -- possibly the most judgemental postings I have ever read in Mumsnet about 1 person...

Callisto · 27/09/2006 19:58

You obviously wern't around for the threads about you know who - makes what I have written about CB look complimentary in comparison.

Uwila · 27/09/2006 20:17

I think you should bow to the queen too, ESPECIALLY if you are the Prime Minister's spouse. I didn't know before this thread that she had refused to do so. I'm not even British and I would bow to her -- something my ancestors who fought on the American side of the revolution might object to. But, nonetheless I am here as a guest and it is only right that I observeve the customs of the country in which I am allowed to be a guest.

smoggie · 28/09/2006 12:33

I haven't met her and I don't know a great deal about her professional career other than she must be fairly bright and savvy to have attained the professional standing she has. I like the fact that she's not one of these wives who walk 3 steps behind just looking pretty with little to say.
I don't believe for one moment that CB didn't know EXACTLY the impact her comments would have - she is an intelligent woman who is politically very aware and would not have let somehting like that slip out without realising the consequences.
Even if it was a genuine 'slip up' doesn't that endear her a little more to know that she is human and prepared to speak her mind. It did to me.
I quite like her, I get the impression she doesn't take any s**t, speaks her mind and is confident enough in her own abilities that she doesn't need to cling to her husband's career.

Callisto · 28/09/2006 12:36

I think it must have been a cock-up - allegedly TB gave her a serious bollocking afterwards and Mandy had to step in to calm things down. Too funny.

niceglasses · 28/09/2006 12:36

I must admit to being taken aback by some of the views here on CB, esp the line about 'looking like a bag lady' when she opened the door of no 10 after the 1997 election. God, I thought that was terrific. Like the poster says below, it shows she was human like the rest of us, looking a sight 1st thing in the morning. I may not agree with everything she says but give me a real woman with real opinions prepared to voice them to an empty headed tea maker any day.

smoggie · 28/09/2006 12:37

As for the bowing (or not to the queen) - probably as the wife of the head of state she should have , but she's obviously a woman of principles and good for her that she was prepared to stick to them no matter what. Whether or not you agree with it, at least I think you have to admire her for not betraying her principles - like so many do.

Callisto · 28/09/2006 12:41

Well I've never opened my front door looking a complete state and nor would I. It doesn't take much effort to sling on some reasonable clothes upon rolling out of bed fgs.

Callisto · 28/09/2006 12:42

"she's obviously a woman of principles" ha ha ha haaaa. Oh I have got to just leave this thread alone.

smoggie · 28/09/2006 12:47

callisto - so I'm assuming you just feel it ws plain ignorance as to why she refused to bow. Nah, don't buy it. Like I say you don't get to where she is by being ignorant or stupid, she just didn't agree with doing it, so didn't do it. End of.

fairyjay · 28/09/2006 12:49

niceglasses
It was the door of their old house in Islington that she opened, not the door of No. 10.

I suspect there might have been one or two people around to remind her, if that had been the case

niceglasses · 28/09/2006 12:49

Good for you Callisto - must be fantastic being so perfect. I prefer pple with a bit more 'earthiness' - bit more real somehow.

smoggie · 28/09/2006 12:56

niceglasses - absolutely!. She probably didn't have time to search for her Armani suit, kitten heels and put a full face on before answering the door. Thank god someone in the public eye doesn't perpetuate the myth that we must always be be wearing our best togs and have a full face on everytime we step out of the door.

slackstockmistress · 28/09/2006 19:45

BOB GELDOF!!!!!!!!!!

Callisto · 29/09/2006 12:29

Smoggie - if you had followed the thread you would have seen that I think she was being deliberately rude (ie impolite) by not curseying to the Queen. And as far as I am aware, she is where she is today because she married a man who became PM.

Niceglasses - what's your problem? Where did I ever say or even imply I was perfect? I'm less 'real' than you because I manage to get myself and my daughter dressed and down stairs looking resonable by 7.45am? Whatever. I'm not interested in swapping personal insults.