Blair Babe Explained

Blair Babes or Blair's Babes was a term sometimes used to refer to the 101 female Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Labour Party elected to the House of Commons in Labour's landslide 1997 general election victory, after images of the new prime minister, Tony Blair, with 96[1] of them on the steps of Church House in Westminster were widely publicised.[2] The photographs have been called "infamous".[3] The phrase is attributed to the Daily Mail.[4] The term was criticised as trivialising women in politics, and the group of women MPs to which it referred have been studied as a group.

Background

The 1997 general election saw more women elected to the House of Commons than ever – 120, exactly double the 60 elected at the 1992 general election. Aside from the 101 Labour MPs, there were also 13 Conservatives, three Liberal Democrats, and three from other parties (including Speaker Betty Boothroyd, previously a Labour politician). However, many of the new female MPs grew disillusioned, and nine either chose not to stand or lost their seats in the 2001 general election. Despite two female MPs winning by-elections between 1997 and 2001, and other women being elected, the total number of female MPs fell to 118 at the 2001 general election. A further 22 stood down or lost their seats at the 2005 general election, although the number of female MPs increased again to a new record of 127.

Perception

According to The Times, Margaret Moran, MP for Luton South, described the "perception that the 1997 intake of female Labour MPs are all robotic clones" as "complete tosh".[5] Moran said that she herself was not a Blair Babe, but a "Blair Witch".[5] The columnist Polly Toynbee condemned the term as a "casual, misogynist tag."[6]

Implications of the term

The sociological implications of the term and the experiences of Labour's women MPs were extensively analysed by Sarah Childs in her 2004 book New Labour's Women MPs: Women Representing Women.[7] It has been identified as a trivialising way to refer to women in politics, similar to Cameron Cutie.[8] Tony Blair's wife Cherie Blair did not like the term.[9] Margaret Moran said it should not be used.[10] The term has also been used within Parliament to stigmatise some women MPs, separating "young attractive" Blair's Babes from "brainy babe[s]".[11]

Some of the group believe that the term was harmful to their ability to bring about change, and that it encouraged a focus on their appearance.[4] It has been reported that the Daily Mail used the term "to challenge Labour's claim that having 101 women MPs would make a difference".[4]

Experiences of Blair's Babes as a group

This group of women MPs has sometimes been used as a way to examine women MPs' experiences in Parliament, as in a Guardian article by Rachel Cooke in 2007.[3] Cooke's interviews of ten of the women found that some of them had experienced bullying, sexism and cliques in Parliament, as well as working hours that conflicted with family life.[3] They have also been the subject of "where are they now?" articles.[12]

The journalist Lucy Ward has written of the group,[13]

As of the 2024 general election, there are five Blair Babes left in the House of Commons, out of a total of 263 female MPs.

List

Name Constituency Elected Lost seat/
Stood down 		Notes
1. 1987 In 2023, lost the Labour whip and sat as an Independent MP. Regained the whip in 2024.
2. 1990 2005 Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Adams of Craigielea in 2005.
3. 1992 2010 Served as a government whip in 1997 and then under-secretary in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Reshuffled after the 2001 election. Lost seat to Conservative Jake Berry. Died in 2023.
4. 1987 2010 Served as Government Chief Whip of the House of Commons and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury from 2001 to 2006 then Minister for the Cabinet Office, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Social Exclusion from 2006 to 2007. Retired in 2010, subsequently ennobled as Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top.
5. 2005 Lost seat to Liberal Democrat Julia Goldsworthy. Died in 2017.
6. 2010 Lost seat to Conservative Karen Bradley.
7. 1983 2024 Previously MP for Lincoln (1974–79). Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Beckett in 2024.
8. 2015 Lost seat to SNP's Callum McCaig.
9. 2010 Retired.
10. Hazel Blears[14] 19972015 Retired.
11. Helen Clark, Helen Brinton at the time[15] Lost seat to Conservative Stewart Jackson.
12. Regent's Park and Kensington North/Westminster North (2010-24) 1997 2024 Retired.
13. 1997 2001 Lost seat to Conservative Bob Spink. Died in 2017.
14. 1992 2005 Lost seat to Liberal Democrat David Howarth.
15. 1994 2001 Retired.
16. 1997 2005 Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Clark of Calton in 2005.
17. 1984 2019 Retired in 2019 and died in 2023.
18. 1992 2019 Resigned from the Labour Party and joined Change UK. Retired.
19. Yvette Cooper[16] 1997
20. 1992 2005 Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Corston in 2005.
21. 1997 2010 Retired.
22. 1997 2010 Retired.
23. 1997 2005 Lost seat to Liberal Democrat Stephen Williams.
24. 1997 2010 Retired
25. 1997 2005 Retired.
26. 1974 2008 Previously MP for Exeter (1966–70). Died in office.
27. 1992
28. 1997
29. 1997 2019 Resigned from the Labour Party and retired.
30. 1997 2005 Lost seat to Liberal Democrat Paul Rowen.
31. 1997 2019Lost seat to Conservative Nick Fletcher.
32. Barbara Follett[17] 1997 2010 Retired.
33. 1987 2001 Retired.
34. 1997 2010 Lost seat to Conservative Oliver Colvile.
35. 1986 2001 Retired. Ennobled in 2001 as Baroness Golding.
36. 1997 2001 Lost seat to Conservative Andrew Rosindell.
37. Jane Griffiths[18] [19] 1997 2005 Deselected.
38 1982 2024 Retired.
39. 1997 2010 Previously MP for Mid Staffordshire (1990–92). Retired.
40. 1997 2010 Retired.
41. 1994 2024 Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Hodge of Barking in 2024.
42. 1989 2019 Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Hoey in 2020.
43. 1997 2010 Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Hughes of Stretford in 2010.
44. 1997 2010 Retired.
45. 1992 2015 Retired. Died in 2023.
46. 1992 2005 Retired.
47. 1997 2005 Lost seat to Conservative Grant Shapps.
48. Fiona Jones[20] [21] 1997 2001 Lost seat to Conservative Patrick Mercer. Died in 2007.
49. 1997 2019 Retired
50. 1997 2001 Retired.
51. 1992 2010 Retired.
52. 1992 2015 Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Jowell in 2015. Died in 2018.
53. 1997 2010 Lost seat to Conservative Michael Ellis.
54. 1997 2010 Lost seat to Conservative Mary Macleod.
55. Ruth Kelly[22] 1997 2010 Retired.
56. 1992 2010 Retired.
57. 1997 2005 Lost seat to George Galloway (Respect). Ennobled as Baroness King of Bow in 2011.
58. 1997 2001 Retired.
59. 1997 2005 Retired.
60. 1994 2005 Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke in 2005.
61. 1997 2017 Retired.
62. 1987 2005 Retired. Died in 2022.
63. 1997 2010 Lost seat to Conservative Nigel Mills.
64. 1997 2010 Retired.
65. 1997
66. 1997 2015 Retired.
67. 1997 2010 Lost seat to Conservative Martin Vickers.
68. 1997 2010 Retired.
69. 1997 2010 Lost seat to Conservative Karl McCartney. Ennobled as Baroness Merron in 2021.
70. 1997 2010 Retired.
71. 1997 2010 Barred from standing as the Labour candidate.
72. 1997 2010 Lost seat to Conservative Jonathan Evans.
73. 1992 2005 Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Morris of Yardley in 2005.
74. 1997 2010 Retired.
75. 1987 2001 Retired. Died in 2005.
76. 1997 2005 Retired.
77. 1997 2015 Lost seat to SNP Corri Wilson.
78. 1997 2005 Lost seat to Conservative Lee Scott.
79. 1992 2010 Retired.
80. 1987 2015 Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Primarolo in 2015.
81. 1987 2005 Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Quin in 2005.
82. 1992 2005 Lost seat to Liberal Democrat Lynne Featherstone.
83. 1987 2015 Retired.
84. 1997 2010 Lost seat to Conservative Stephen Mosley.
85. 1997/2015 2010/2019 Lost seat to Conservative Nick de Bois. Regained seat in 2015. Resigned from the Labour Party and joined Change UK. Retired.
86. 1997 2005 Retired.
87. 1983 2010 Resigned from the Labour Party and retired.
88. 1997 2010 Lost seat to Conservative Stephen Metcalfe. Ennobled as Baroness Smith of Basildon in 2010.
89. 1997 2010 Lost seat to Conservative David Morris.
90. 1997 2010 Lost seat to Conservative Karen Lumley. Ennobled as Baroness Smith of Malvern in 2024.
91. 1997 2010 Retired.
92. 1992 2006 Died in office.
93. 1997 2010 Lost seat to Conservative Iain Stewart.
94. 1997 2017 Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston in 2020.
95. 1987 2005 Previously MP for Bolton West (1974–83). Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Taylor of Bolton in 2005.
96. 1997 2010 Lost seat to Conservative James Wharton.
97. 19872015 Retired.
98. 1997 2010 Lost seat to Conservative Richard Harrington. Elected Mayor of the East Midlands in 2024.
99. 2010 Retired.
100. 1997 2024 Became a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons in 2017. Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Winterton of Doncaster in 2024.
101. 2000 Previously MP for Coventry South West (1974–79). Died in office.

Further reading

See also

Notes and References

  1. The five absent female Labour MPs were Kate Hoey, Clare Short, Glenda Jackson, Lynne Jones and Julie Morgan.
  2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1721937.stm All-women shortlists clear new hurdle
  3. News: Cooke . Rachel . Oh babe, just look at us now . 22 July 2021 . The Observer . 22 April 2007.
  4. News: Perkins . Anne . Ward . Lucy . The rise and fall of Blair's babes . 22 July 2021 . The Guardian . 24 May 2001.
  5. Mark Inglefield. "A fair cop", The Times, London, 2 September 2000, p. 22
  6. https://www.theguardian.com/Columnists/Column/0,5673,457512,00.html Better than men
  7. Book: Sarah Childs. New Labour's Women MPs: Women Representing Women. 31 July 2004. Routledge. 1-135-76616-9.
  8. Mavin . Sharon . Bryans . Patricia . Cunningham . Rosie . Fed-up with Blair's babes, Gordon's gals, Cameron's cuties, Nick's nymphets : Challenging gendered media representations of women political leaders . Gender in Management . October 2010 . 25 . 7 . 10.1108/17542411011081365 . 22 July 2021.
  9. Web site: Cherie Blair Really Did Not Like Term 'Blair Babes' Used To Describe Intake Of Female MPs In 1997. HuffPost. 25 May 2020. 20 January 2016.
  10. News: Maguire . Kevin . Village life - Kevin Maguire bids farewell to Blair babes . 22 July 2021 . The New Statesman . 17 October 2005 . 22 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210722194110/https://www.newstatesman.com/node/163043 . dead .
  11. Book: Sylvia Shaw. Women, Language and Politics. 22 July 2021. 28 May 2020. Cambridge University Press. 978-1-107-08088-1. 58–.
  12. News: The 'Blair babes': Where are they now? . 22 July 2021 . BBC News . 8 May 2007.
  13. Book: Ward . Lucy . Coote . Anna . New Gender Agenda: Why Women Still Want More . 2000 . Institute for Public Policy Research . 23–32 . https://books.google.com/books?id=UJCZdH8zFNYC&pg=PA23 . 22 July 2021 . Learning from the "Babe" experience: how the finest hour became a fiasco. 9781860301209 .
  14. News: Brown knifed by 'Blair Babe' . 22 July 2021 . The Metro . 3 June 2009.
  15. News: 'Blair babe' lashes out at PM . 22 July 2021 . News 24 . 8 May 2005.
  16. News: Yvette Cooper: 'Blair Babe' is now among party's brightest prospects . 22 July 2021 . Yorkshire Post . 21 January 2011.
  17. News: Walker . Tim . Barbara Follett, the original Blair babe, 'preparing to quit the Commons' . 22 July 2021 . The Telegraph . 30 September 2009.
  18. News: Elliott . Francis . Sex and booze tales set to make 'Blair babe' cross the floor . 22 July 2021 . The Independent . 21 July 2013.
  19. News: Leapman . Ben . Blair Babe dumped and replaced by gay man . 22 July 2021 . Evening Standard.
  20. News: Drink kills 'disgraced' Blair Babe . 22 July 2021 . The Times . 5 February 2007.
  21. News: Price . Karen . Widower's grief over 'Blair babe' death . 22 July 2021 . Wales Online . 5 February 2007.
  22. News: The rise and rise of 'Blair Babe' Ruth . 22 July 2021 . Bolton News . 16 December 2004.

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