Because we know this is what's important for women.

[SueBaRoomForAMincePie]

This drives me crackers.

Anna she probably looks shiny in photos as she doesn't wear layers of foundation and go to powder her nose every few minutes. thank god.

anna - was it headlined "from ugly duckling to swan"

i bet it wasn't

this article implies Ruth Kelly is now meeting some standard about her beauty that she wasn't before

men aren't subjected to that

state provision for dyslexia and dyspraxia can be rubbish im not surprised she looked elsewhwere

They never look cool though do they? More like City workers at a Christmas do

LOL at the Guardian described as a "madrassa of Leftism".

i think the article speaks volumes about the daily mail eperception of their readership and not much else

I take a certain pleasure in the thought that she is into self-flagellation (allegedly) 'cos it saves me the trouble

Manchita - i have seen analysis of Tony Blair
usually around the fact that he became more wrinkled and aged looking after 10 years as PM

he wasn't applauded like Ruth Kelly is for becomeing more beautiful/accepatble to the media

SantaBaby - well, I'm not surprised she looked elsewhere either and I would have done the same.

But I don't pretend to be a socialist.

but parent first politician second is what i would expect from an mp and hope for tbh hun

But she hasn't become more beautiful-it is complete crap and irrlevent to everything

manchita - exactly, she just looks as if a group of advisors have given her a makeover (ie a veneer).

If it really came from within it would show.

Santa - how can you profess to have great skills and knowledge with which to lead the country and decide how other people should lead their lives - and then lead your own life completely differently to the way you are telling them to lead theirs?

I agree with Anna about the hypocrisy thing re schools (though I didn't know that about Ruth Kelly).
They are telling everyone else: concerned parents can make a difference to schools, if some of the schools are crap it is the fault of the middle classes for grabbing places in the best ones. And then they just buy their own way out of the system.

bit off the subject though, sorry.

zippi, keep your flowing locks my darling x

not sure mps do profess that

its a job yiou think you can do well so you go for it if its about making changes yiou arent always in a position toi change things as u wish tho and if u want to make a choice as a parent then that comes first

Kathy - it's only off the subject if you believe that a person's appearance and a person's character are totally divorced from one another.

If, however, you believe that their appearance is, in some way, a reflection of their character, it is a relevant discussion.

I do believe that integrity of character is very often reflected in the way a person appears to the world.

Oh good grief, someone show the swan picture will ya 'cause I can't find it.

I do, however, agree with Anna that male politicians are also subject to this king of image analysis. I remember seeing one on Bill Clinton's changing hair colour when he was running for president. It would change from brown to grey to make him look older or younger depending on wh ohis audience was on the campaign trail. And, JFK's looks have certainly been given much credit for his success.

In fact, I think politics is one of the very few professions where a man's appearance does matter as much as a woman's.

Santa - I don't mind a right-wing politician saying what you say.

I do mind a left-wing politician saying so, however.

I think it's a more complicated relationship than you are giving it credit for Anna.

i respect an mp who does things as a parent which might make them unpopular..they are facing the same decisions as other people its interesting to see how they tackle them

and i dont expect any mp to totally agree with decisions made tho they might have to toe the line...there are always compromises of view arent there or nothing would ever get done

why do u mind ?

Kathy - I don't believe is is all that complicated . However, the British are absolutely overwhelmed with rubbish cultural conditioning about discounting appearances blah blah blah and have never learned to read the signs .

Mass psychoanalysis is needed to rid the British of their collective neuroris.

I saw Nick Clegg's wife for the first time yesterday and thought of you UQD. [grin} How sad is that?

Whenever I hear Ruth Kelly speak I'm reminded of the theme tune to Huxley Pig uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QqPuTL77KfE She's just got such a chewy voice.

Ahem. Sorry, yes, Daily Mail, appalling sexism.