Blair Babe

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 has been 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]

The story of the so-called "Blair Babes" ... is a unique tale of soaring expectations, disappointed dreams and indignant rebuttals, with a few political casualties thrown in along the way. It reveals much about the party which, at first, set so much store by women's election, and about the image-obsessed government Britain elected.

As of the 2019 general election, there are ten Blair Babes left in the House of Commons, out of a total of 219 female MPs.

• The 10 MPs left as of 2022
•  
  Diane Abbott (1987) Hackney North and Stoke Newington
•  
  Margaret Beckett (1983) Derby South
•  
  Karen Buck (1997) Westminster North
•  
  Yvette Cooper (1997) Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford
•  
  Angela Eagle (1992) Wallasey
•  
  Maria Eagle (1997) Garston and Halewood
•  
  Harriet Harman (1982) Camberwell and Peckham
•  
  Margaret Hodge (1994) Barking
•  
  Siobhain McDonagh (1997) Mitcham and Morden
•  
  Rosie Winterton (1997) Doncaster Central

List

#	Name	Constituency	Elected	Lost seat/ Stood down	Notes
1.	Diane Abbott	Hackney North and Stoke Newington	1987
2.	Irene Adams	Paisley North	1990	2005	Retired, ennobled as Baroness Adams of Craigielea in 2005
3.	Janet Anderson	Rossendale and Darwen	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.	Hilary Armstrong	North West Durham	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.	Candy Atherton	Falmouth and Camborne	1997	2005	Lost seat to Liberal Democrat Julia Goldsworthy. Died in 2017
6.	Charlotte Atkins	Staffordshire Moorlands	1997	2010	Lost seat to Conservative Karen Bradley
7.	Margaret Beckett	Derby South	1983		Previously MP for Lincoln (1974–79). Retiring at the end of the 58th Parliament
8.	Anne Begg	Aberdeen South	1997	2015	Lost seat to SNP's Callum McCaig
9.	Liz Blackman	Erewash	1997	2010	Retired
10.	Hazel Blears^[14]	Salford/Salford and Eccles	1997	2015	Retired
11.	Helen Clark, Helen Brinton at the time^[15]	Peterborough	1997	2005	Lost seat to Conservative Stewart Jackson
12.	Karen Buck	Regent's Park and Kensington North/Westminster North (2010-)	1997
13.	Christine Butler	Castle Point	1997	2001	Lost seat to Conservative Bob Spink. Died in 2017
14.	Anne Campbell	Cambridge	1992	2005	Lost seat to Liberal Democrat David Howarth
15.	Judith Church	Dagenham	1994	2001	Retired
16.	Lynda Clark	Edinburgh Pentlands	1997	2005	Retired
17.	Ann Clwyd	Cynon Valley	1984	2019	Retired in 2019 and died in 2023
18.	Ann Coffey	Stockport	1992	2019	Resigned from the Labour Party and joined Change UK. Retired
19.	Yvette Cooper^[16]	Pontefract and Castleford/Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford	1997
20.	Jean Corston	Bristol East	1992	2005	Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Corston in 2005.
21.	Ann Cryer	Keighley	1997	2010	Retired
22.	Claire Curtis-Thomas	Crosby	1997	2010	Retired
23.	Valerie Davey	Bristol West	1997	2005	Lost seat to Liberal Democrat Stephen Williams
24.	Janet Dean	Burton	1997	2010	Retired
25.	Julia Drown	South Swindon	1997	2005	Retired
26.	Gwyneth Dunwoody	Crewe/Crewe and Nantwich	1974	2008	Previously MP for Exeter (1966–70). Died in office
27.	Angela Eagle	Wallasey	1992
28.	Maria Eagle	Liverpool Garston/Garston and Halewood	1997
29.	Louise Ellman	Liverpool Riverside	1997	2019	Resigned from the Labour Party and retired
30.	Lorna Fitzsimons	Rochdale	1997	2005	Lost seat to Liberal Democrat Paul Rowen
31.	Caroline Flint	Don Valley	1997	2019	Lost seat to Conservative Nick Fletcher
32.	Barbara Follett^[17]	Stevenage	1997	2010	Retired
33.	Maria Fyfe	Glasgow Maryhill	1987	2001	Retired
34.	Linda Gilroy	Plymouth Sutton	1997	2010	Lost seat to Conservative Oliver Colvile
35.	Llin Golding	Newcastle-under-Lyme	1986	2001	Retired. Ennobled in 2001 as Baroness Golding of Newcastle-Under-Lyme.
36.	Eileen Gordon	Romford	1997	2001	Lost seat to Conservative Andrew Rosindell
37.	Jane Griffiths^[18]^[19]	Reading East	1997	2005	Deselected
38	Harriet Harman	Camberwell and Peckham	1982		Retiring at the end of the 58th Parliament
39.	Sylvia Heal	Halesowen and Rowley Regis	1997	2010	Previously MP for Mid Staffordshire (1990-1992). Retired
40.	Patricia Hewitt	Leicester West	1997	2010	Retired
41.	Margaret Hodge	Barking	1994		Retiring at the end of the 58th Parliament
42.	Kate Hoey	Vauxhall	1989	2019	Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Hoey of Lylehill and Rathlin in 2020.
43.	Beverley Hughes	Stretford and Urmston	1997	2010	Retired, ennobled as Baroness Hughes of Stretford in 2010.
44.	Joan Humble	Blackpool North and Fleetwood	1997	2010	Retired
45.	Glenda Jackson	Hampstead and Highgate	1992	2015	Retired. Died in 2023
46.	Helen Jackson	Sheffield Hillsborough	1992	2005	Retired
47.	Melanie Johnson	Welwyn Hatfield	1997	2005	Lost seat to Conservative Grant Shapps
48.	Fiona Jones^[20]^[21]	Newark	1997	2001	Lost seat to Conservative Patrick Mercer. Died in 2007
49.	Helen Jones	Warrington North	1997	2019	Retired
50.	Jenny Jones	Wolverhampton South West	1997	2001	Retired
51.	Lynne Jones	Birmingham Selly Oak	1992	2010	Retired
52.	Tessa Jowell	Dulwich and West Norwood	1992	2015	Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Jowell of Dulwich in 2015. Died in 2018.
53.	Sally Keeble	Northampton North	1997	2010	Lost seat to Conservative Michael Ellis
54.	Ann Keen	Brentford and Isleworth	1997	2010	Lost seat to Conservative Mary Macleod.
55.	Ruth Kelly^[22]	Bolton West	1997	2010	Retired
56.	Jane Kennedy	Liverpool Broadgreen/Liverpool, Wavertree	1992	2010	Retired
57.	Oona King	Bethnal Green and Bow	1997	2005	Lost seat to George Galloway (Respect). Ennobled as Baroness King of Bow in 2011.
58.	Tess Kingham	Gloucester	1997	2001	Retired
59.	Jackie Lawrence	Preseli Pembrokeshire	1997	2005	Retired
60.	Helen Liddell	Monklands East/Airdrie and Shotts	1994	2005	Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke in 2005.
61.	Fiona Mactaggart	Slough	1997	2017	Retired
62.	Alice Mahon	Halifax	1987	2005	Retired. Died in 2022
63.	Judy Mallaber	Amber Valley	1997	2010	Lost seat to Conservative Nigel Mills
64.	Christine McCafferty	Calder Valley	1997	2010	Retired
65.	Siobhain McDonagh	Mitcham and Morden	1997
66.	Anne McGuire	Stirling	1997	2015	Retired
67.	Shona McIsaac	Cleethorpes	1997	2010	Lost seat to Conservative Martin Vickers
68.	Rosemary McKenna	Cumbernauld and Kilsyth/Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East	1997	2010	Retired
69.	Gillian Merron	Lincoln	1997	2010	Lost seat to Conservative Karl McCartney. Ennobled as Baroness Merron of Lincoln in 2021.
70.	Laura Moffatt	Crawley	1997	2010	Retired
71.	Margaret Moran	Luton South	1997	2010	Barred from standing as the Labour candidate
72.	Julie Morgan	Cardiff North	1997	2010	Lost seat to Conservative Jonathan Evans
73.	Estelle Morris	Birmingham Yardley	1992	2005	Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Morris of Yardley in 2005.
74.	Kali Mountford	Colne Valley	1997	2010	Retired
75.	Mo Mowlam	Redcar	1987	2001	Retired. Died in 2005
76.	Diana Organ	Forest of Dean	1997	2005	Retired
77.	Sandra Osborne	Ayr/Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock	1997	2015	Lost seat to SNP Corri Wilson
78.	Linda Perham	Ilford North	1997	2005	Lost seat to Conservative Lee Scott
79.	Bridget Prentice	Lewisham East	1992	2010	Retired
80.	Dawn Primarolo	Bristol South	1987	2015	Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Primarolo of Windmill Hill in 2015.
81.	Joyce Quin	Gateshead East/Gateshead East and Washington West	1987	2005	Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Quin of Gateshead in 2005.
82.	Barbara Roche	Hornsey and Wood Green	1992	2005	Lost seat to Liberal Democrat Lynne Featherstone
83.	Joan Ruddock	Lewisham Deptford	1987	2015	Retired
84.	Christine Russell	City of Chester	1997	2010	Lost seat to Conservative Stephen Mosley
85.	Joan Ryan	Enfield North	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.	Debra Shipley	Stourbridge	1997	2005	Retired
87.	Clare Short	Birmingham Ladywood	1983	2010	Resigned from the Labour Party and retired
88.	Angela Smith	Basildon	1997	2010	Lost seat to Conservative Stephen Metcalfe. Ennobled as Baroness Smith of Basildon in 2010.
89.	Geraldine Smith	Morecambe and Lunesdale	1997	2010	Lost seat to Conservative David Morris
90.	Jacqui Smith	Redditch	1997	2010	Lost seat to Conservative Karen Lumley
91.	Helen Southworth	Warrington South	1997	2010	Retired
92.	Rachel Squire	Dunfermline West	1992	2006	Died in office
93.	Phyllis Starkey	Milton Keynes	1997	2010	Lost seat to Conservative Iain Stewart
94.	Gisela Stuart	Birmingham Edgbaston	1997	2017	Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston in 2020.
95.	Ann Taylor	Dewsbury	1987	2005	Previously MP for Bolton West (1974–83). Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Taylor of Bolton in 2005.
96.	Dari Taylor	Stockton South	1997	2010	Lost seat to Conservative James Wharton
97.	Joan Walley	Stoke-on-Trent North	1987	2015	Retired
98.	Claire Ward	Watford	1997	2010	Lost seat to Conservative Richard Harrington
99.	Betty Williams	Conwy	1997	2010	Retired
100.	Rosie Winterton	Doncaster Central	1997		Became a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons in 2017. Retiring at the end of the 58th Parliament.
101.	Audrey Wise	Preston	1987	2000	Previously MP for Coventry South West (1974–79). Died in office

References

1. The five absent female Labour MPs were Kate Hoey, Clare Short, Glenda Jackson, Lynne Jones and Julie Morgan.
2. All-women shortlists clear new hurdle, BBC News, 21 December 2001 (including iconic photograph of Blair Babes)
3. Cooke, Rachel (22 April 2007). "Oh babe, just look at us now". The Observer. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
4. Perkins, Anne; Ward, Lucy (24 May 2001). "The rise and fall of Blair's babes". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
5. Mark Inglefield. "A fair cop", The Times, London, 2 September 2000, p. 22
6. Better than men, The Guardian, 16 March 2001.
7. Sarah Childs (31 July 2004). New Labour's Women MPs: Women Representing Women. Routledge. ISBN 1-135-76616-9.
8. Mavin, Sharon; Bryans, Patricia; Cunningham, Rosie (October 2010). "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. 25 (7). doi:10.1108/17542411011081365. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
9. "Cherie Blair Really Did Not Like Term 'Blair Babes' Used To Describe Intake Of Female MPs In 1997". HuffPost. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
10. Maguire, Kevin (17 October 2005). . The New Statesman. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
11. Sylvia Shaw (28 May 2020). Women, Language and Politics. Cambridge University Press. pp. 58–. ISBN 978-1-107-08088-1. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
12. "The 'Blair babes': Where are they now?". BBC News. 8 May 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
13. Ward, Lucy (2000). "Learning from the "Babe" experience: how the finest hour became a fiasco". In Coote, Anna (ed.). New Gender Agenda: Why Women Still Want More. Institute for Public Policy Research. pp. 23–32. ISBN 9781860301209. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
14. "Brown knifed by 'Blair Babe'". The Metro. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
15. "'Blair babe' lashes out at PM". News 24. 8 May 2005. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
16. "Yvette Cooper: 'Blair Babe' is now among party's brightest prospects". Yorkshire Post. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
17. Walker, Tim (30 September 2009). "Barbara Follett, the original Blair babe, 'preparing to quit the Commons'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
18. Elliott, Francis (21 July 2013). "Sex and booze tales set to make 'Blair babe' cross the floor". The Independent. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
19. Leapman, Ben. "Blair Babe dumped and replaced by gay man". Evening Standard. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
20. "Drink kills 'disgraced' Blair Babe". The Times. 5 February 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
21. Price, Karen (5 February 2007). "Widower's grief over 'Blair babe' death". Wales Online. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
22. "The rise and rise of 'Blair Babe' Ruth". Bolton News. 16 December 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2021.

Further reading

 

Look up blair babe in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• "The Babe who fell from grace", The Daily Telegraph, 9 February 2007
• , Pippa Norris and Joni Lovenduski, 2001 (PDF)
• , Parliament, Standard Note 1528, 17 November 2005 (PDF)

See also

• Tony's Cronies