Iron Lady adored pretty boy faces

Former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher promoted male politicians she found attractive, even if they were “useless”, one of her ministers has claimed in a new book.

Former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher promoted male politicians she found attractive, even if they were “useless”, one of her ministers has claimed in a new book.

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David Waddington, who served as her chief whip and home secretary, said she had a weakness for a “pretty face” and colleagues tried to talk her out of some appointments.

In his autobiography, Dispatches From Margaret Thatcher’s Last Home Secretary, Lord Waddington writes: “When it came to discussing ministerial appointments, one thing was quite apparent and that was the Prime Minister liked a pretty face. Once or twice she had to be discouraged when she wished to see some good-looking fellow promoted who was known to be useless.”

“I am talking of an interesting foible. I am not suggesting for one moment that she was not perfectly capable in the ordinary course of events of picking competent people,” he added.