Cameron Cutie

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a series about
David Cameron
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
First ministry and term
(May 2010 – May 2015)
Second ministry and term
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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]

  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.