Big boys do cry: the politics of emotion
Updated on 08 February 2010
Alastair Campbell had a wobble at the weekend, now Gordon Brown has "welled up" during a TV interview. So why are we surprised when the tough guys of politics show their emotions?
Tony Blair's former spin doctor Alastair Campbell broke down during an appearance on the Andrew Marr Show.
Mr Campbell became emotional when Marr described his book Maya as his "new work of fiction".
This was taken as a barbed reference to the controversial dossier Campbell helped assemble on Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction.
Then, in an extraordinary exchange, Mr Campbell said: "The prime minister did not mislead Parliament."
Instead of continuing he then paused and appeared to be struggling for breath.
"Yes, because I said ... forgive me for this, I've ..."
Mr Marr told him: "People say you can't answer this question."
Mr Campbell again gave a reply interrupted by several pauses, saying: "I've been through a lot of this Andrew. And I've been through a lot of that inquiry ... and, er ... Tony Blair, I think is a totally honourable man."
His wobble was all the more surprising because Campbell is the most notorious of all the Blair-era adivisers, and he is famous for being aggressive and tough.
The permanently angry Malcolm Tucker, in political drama The Thick of It, is generally assumed to be based on Mr Campbell.
Dr Rupa Huq is a political blogger and sociology lecturer at London's Kingston University.
She says: "I think there's a perception that you have to be tough as nails or have an armadillo hide to get to the top in politics but actually normality is a great asset."
Indeed, Mr Campbell himself advised Gordon Brown to "be yourself" ahead of a TV interview with Piers Morgan.
The prime minister then "welled up" when the former newspaper editor asked him about his baby daughter's death. Jennifer died in 2002, 10 days after her premature birth.
Ms Huq told Channel 4 News the occassional show of weakness, especially by tough politicians like Brown, can be good for their public profile.
She added: "I remember there was one eighties TV interview where Thatcher got teary-eyed recalling when her dad Alf Roberts lost his parish council seat years ago.
"The world was agog, it looked like a chink in the armour of the 'iron lady'.
"I personally suspected she’d had an onion in the hanky she had on her at the time. When she later declared 'we are a grandmother' it made her look imperious and distant, true to form."
She added: "When David Cameron lost his son there was an all-party ceasefire in the baiting of him as out of touch Eton toff.
"It seems though that we are remarking on these outbreaks of emotion on because they are so rare, which is a shame in a world where the concept of 'emotional intelligence' is increasingly bandied around outside politics."
Political commentator, and founder of YouGov, Peter Kellner, believes politicians tread a fine line.
He said: "A congenital failing [of politicians] is that they are programmed to be tough, to give the message of the day, not to reveal themselves.
"Those who over the years have broken through with the public - like Edwina Currie, Mo Mowlam, Boris Johnson, Ann Widdecombe and Enoch Powell - did so because it was felt they were giving off their real selves, love or hate them.
"Politicians do themselves a disservice by trying to hide themselves.
"They must show fallibility but not so much that suggests they do not have enough political stamina."
As we move closer to the general election this "battle of the personalities" is set to dominate. But, says Rupa Huq, there is a bizarre irony here.
She is certain the majority of voters do not actually recognise politicians when prompted, let alone know anything about them.
She said: "There are very few voters who systematically compare parties policy platforms and then make a rational choice.
"Most will have some idea about policy but politicians' life stories matter as well, as it gives voters a shorthand to how their leaders value system works and may react to unforseen events in the future.
"Smart politicians realise this and use it to their advantage."
