Charismatic politicians

by Charles Lindlar

Elections are won through politicians persuading people to vote for them in a number of ways, but their charisma and their ability to charm the voters can often make the difference.

Some politicians, such as Gordon Brown, use facts and experience to show that they are the logical choice while others, like Barack Obama, encourage voters through passionate speeches and an engaging personality.

However, it is easy to see which of the two most would prefer to listen to.

So scandalous

Following the numerous recent scandals over MPs billing the public for moats, duck ponds and more, the country’s faith in those who run it has plummeted.

In the first ever televised election debate on April 15, Conservative leader David Cameron said that he was: "Extremely sorry for everything that happened.

"Your politicians, frankly all of us, let you down," and that it was time that politicians were seen as champions of the public again.

David Cameron clearly wants scandal-free and charming, trustworthy leaders running the country, like the rest of us.

Scandals have never been too far from Westminster.

In living memory, there have been dozens of revelations about affairs between politicians and their secretaries - most recently former Labour deputy Prime Minister John Prescott - or even between members of the Cabinet themselves.

Then Prime Minister John Major and Edwina Currie’s four-year fling in the 80s comes to mind.

None of these people seem like the type that could talk anyone in to bed, but how is it that they manage to?

Charm and scandal appear to go hand-in-hand in British politics.

That charming man

Being a charming man or woman can get you plenty of places in politics; how else could anyone have been persuaded to make love with John Prescott in his offices?

The former deputy prime minister doesn’t necessarily have the looks to make ladies turn weak at the knees but that didn’t appear to stop him.

John Major and Edwina Currie weren’t exactly Mr and Miss World but clearly there was something in the way they presented themselves that was attractive to each other.

A bit before many of our times but just as important in the long history of political affairs is the sordid story of MP and Secretary of State for War, John Profumo and call girl Christine Keeler in the 1960s.

She was an attractive young socialite and he was the opposite.

The scandal eventually lead to the political ruin of John Profumo, after it was discovered his mistress was also seeing a mysterious Senior Soviet naval officer and had possibly tried to convince her to learn British nuclear secrets from Mr Profumo.

How Profumo managed to get her into bed with him also remains a mystery.

Speeches

It is unfair though to assume that the more charming members of our Parliament only ever use their silver tongues and glinting eyes to earn sexual favours.

Even current London Mayor Boris Johnson had his share of infidelity accusations, as he was sacked as a shadow minister in 2004 after allegedly lying to then Tory leader Michael Howard about an affair.

However his sharp wit and likeable personality warmed him to the public and he now runs our city.

A benefit of being a charming speaker and likeable politician is that the public will be more likely to listen to you, trust you and ultimately forgive you for the mistakes you make.

Mysterious to many

What mystifies many is that when they come to like a politician - or when people such as John Prescott are revealed to be sleeping around - middle-aged, greying men aren’t necessarily the type of men you expect to be charming voters and secretaries across the country.

So could it be argued that men like these use their status and position of power to charm women?

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that politicians in general are charming and convincing speakers.

Many are trained in the art of public speaking and only get themselves into the positions they are in because they know how to manipulate and persuade people.

So perhaps we should be less surprised that we can be charmed by politicians and embrace the fact that we do have some charming men and women in charge of the country, or at the very least men and women who can provide us with humorous, if sordid, gossip.