Cameron Cutie

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Cameron Cutie was a political term used in the UK to refer to female prospective parliamentary candidates and Members of Parliament (MPs) for the 2010 general election from the Conservative Party who were personally supported by then-party leader David Cameron.[1] The term emerged in 2009,[2] and was seen as a Conservative version of the more prominent Blair Babe.[3]

Promoting women candidates was a way of reaching female voters similar to the means by which New Labour won their 1997 landslide.[4] As part of his party's modernisation programme, Cameron advocated for more female MPs.[5] A male equivalent was coined as a "mate of Dave".[6]

Some grassroots activists resented that David Cameron personally selected female parachute candidates for winnable seats.[7] There were female members of the Conservative A-List, priority candidates that were selected for the general election.[8] Mayor of Antrim Adrian Watson said he was overlooked for being the Ulster Conservatives and Unionist candidate in South Antrim for not being a "Cameron cutie".[9]

The term was derided in the media when a number of sex scandals were reported on including some of the candidates.[10] The term was used frequently in the media coverage of the Westminster North Conservative Association selection in 2009 between Joanne Cash and Amanda Sayers, two female lawyers.[11]

List[edit]

The following politicians have been described with the label:

Name Constituency in 2010 Election Other
Kemi Badenoch[12] Dulwich and West Norwood Red XN Defeated by Tessa Jowell Elected in Saffron Walden in the 2017 general election
Joanne Cash[13] Westminster North Red XN Defeated by Karen Buck
Caroline Dinenage[14] Gosport Green tickY Elected - Conservative hold Minister under Cameron, May and Johnson
Deborah Dunleavy[15] Bolton North East Red XN Defeated by Sir David Crausby
Laura Hutchings[16] The former director of the Conservative Middle East Council
Keely Huxtable[17] Birmingham Northfield Red XN Defeated by Richard Burden
Louise Mensch[18] Corby Green tickY Elected - Defeated Labour MP Phil Hope Stood down midterm triggering the 2012 Corby by-election
Caroline Nokes[19] Romsey and Southampton North Green tickY Elected - Defeated Lib Dem MP Sandra Gidley Cabinet minister under Theresa May
Claire Perry O'Neill[20] Devizes Green tickY Elected - Conservative hold Cabinet minister under Theresa May
Amber Rudd[21] Hastings and Rye Green tickY Elected - Defeated Labour MP Michael Foster Cabinet minister under David Cameron and Theresa May
Chloe Smith[22] Norwich North Green tickY Elected - Gain from Labour Elected in the 2009 Norwich North by-election
Liz Truss[23] South West Norfolk Green tickY Elected - Conservative hold Future prime minister
Sarah Wollaston[24] Totnes Green tickY Elected - Conservative hold Defected to Change UK and Liberal Democrats in 2019

Reception[edit]

The term Cameron Cutie was described as sexist.[25] Rachel Johnson did not like the term.[26] Mark Wallace called it an objectionable term and "an even more patronising version of 'Blair's babes'".[27]

Louise Mensch described herself as a feminist instead of a Cameron Cutie.[28]

Following the 2015 general election, new MP Andrea Jenkyns called herself "feisty Yorkshirewoman" rather than a Cameron Cutie.[29]

References[edit]

  1. ^ White, Michael (2009-12-16). "How I helped the Tories pick their candidate for Cambridge". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  2. ^ Ferguson, Euan (2009-10-24). "All-women shortlists for the Tory party? Rubbish idea, Dave". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Wilkinson, Helen (2009-11-19). "Has Cameron sealed the deal with women?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  5. ^ "'Cameron cutie' will not stand at next election". The Bolton News. 2011-05-31. Archived from the original on 2023-07-01. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  6. ^ "Who would be a Cameron cutie, or even just a MoD (mate of Dave's?)". Evening Standard. 2012-04-12. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  7. ^ "Are the Tories only looking for 'cutie' candidates?". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  8. ^ "Tories quietly drop David Cameron's 'A-list'". The Independent. 2012-10-05. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  9. ^ "Adrian Watson: Ousted because I wasn't a Cameron cutie". Belfast Telegraph. 2010-04-01. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  10. ^ Hurst, Greg (2023-06-27). "Tory cutie and head 'caught in bed'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  11. ^ "Joanne Cash: the Conservative cutie causing a stir". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  12. ^ Unknown (2010-08-15). "TEDxEuston: Kemi Adegoke speaks at TEDxEuston". TEDxEuston. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  13. ^ "Joanne Cash concedes defeat with rant at the press". Evening Standard. 2012-04-10. Archived from the original on 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  14. ^ Drake, Matthew (2013-06-29). "'Cameron cutie' Caroline Dinenage dumps husband to date Tory MP Mark Lancaster who walked out on baby". The Mirror. Archived from the original on 2019-12-30. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  15. ^ Wright, Simon (2010-04-10). "'David Cameron Cutie' Deborah Dunleavy had fling with boss". The Mirror. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  16. ^ "Cameron cutie' Laura Hutchings finds love in Middle East". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  17. ^ "David Cameron cutie 'caught naked with married headmaster'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  18. ^ Chittenden, Maurice (2023-06-27). "Mensch quit to avoid poll drubbing, says husband". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  19. ^ "Police handed video recording of 'Cameron cutie' MP and her lover". www.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  20. ^ "Love split 'Cameron cutie' Claire Perry is inspired at Cambridge University". www.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  21. ^ Reporters, Telegraph (2016-07-13). "Who is Amber Rudd? A profile of Britain's Home Secretary". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 2023-04-09. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  22. ^ "Profile: Chloe Smith". 2009-07-24. Archived from the original on 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  23. ^ Mirror.co.uk (2009-10-28). "Points of disorder: Liz Truss". mirror. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  24. ^ Glover, Julian (2010-03-20). "Tories 2.0: Cameron's new breed". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2020-01-11. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  25. ^ Kinchen, Rosie (2023-06-27). "Joanne Cash: Fancy some casual sexism, boys? Become an MP". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  26. ^ "British women 'utterly fed up' with politics and media". BBC News. 7 October 2011. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  27. ^ Wallace, Mark (2015-01-14). "'Cameron's cuties' - where are they now?". Conservative Home. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  28. ^ "Louise Bagshawe: I'm no Cameron Cutie, but a feminist". www.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  29. ^ "Meet the new Conservative women MPs - just don't call them 'Cameron's cuties'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.

See also[edit]

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