Did you send your MP a Valentine?

Valentine's Day has a special significance in Whitehall. The supportive spouse waits for flowers in vain. The loyal constituents anticipate a card that never comes. Instead all political eyes are fixed on one thing. The results of Sky's annual race for Most Fanciable MP.

Competition for this illustrious title is stiff and this year's winners may send Labour MPs running to their stylists. Adding to their recent political woes, they managed only a pathetic two entries in the top ten.

The Lib Dems, meanwhile, are riding high. Half of the top ten Most Fanciables spring from their party. Even Nick Clegg slid in at number eight, confirming his prowess in looks as well as leadership races.

Still it's the Tories who can claim ultimate victory. Both the sexiest man (Jeremy Hunt) and sexiest woman (Julie Kirkbride) hail from their camp. But they're not letting it go to their heads. Here's Hunt on how it feels to be Britain's sexiest politico:

Someone once told me there was a problem with the mirrors in the House of Commons and that all male MPs looked into them and thought it was Brad Pitt looking back. Even though I am very flattered, I suspect this accolade says more about the lack of Brad Pitts in the House of Commons than anything about me personally.

We suspect he may be right. But congratulations anyway.

After all, in such a competitive environment, it's surely only a matter of time before foul play arrives. Cash-filled envelopes to voters? Paying one's daughter to act as one's hairdresser? Watch this space. 

Alice Fishburn

Comments

[NeilD]

Pah, they're nothing compared to the glorious Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, France's secretary for ecology and durable development.

[John Green- Wokingham Berks]

I understand that John Redwood is regarded by some women as the thinking woman's George Clooney. Perhaps there should be a special category to accommodate those in our parliament who measure up to slightly different criteria- Frank Field for example or Vince Cable!

[tam]

Mr. Hunt is rather dishy indeed, and so modest!