# Blair Babe

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Blair Babes or Blair's Babes was a term sometimes used to refer to the 101 female Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Labour Party elected to the House of Commons in Labour's landslide 1997 general election victory, after images of the new prime minister, Tony Blair, with 96 of them on the steps of Church House in Westminster were widely publicised. The photographs have been called "infamous". The phrase is attributed to the Daily Mail. The term was criticised as trivialising women in politics, and the group of women MPs to which it referred have been studied as a group.

## Background

The 1997 general election saw more women elected to the House of Commons than ever – 120, exactly double the 60 elected at the 1992 general election. Aside from the 101 Labour MPs, there were also 13 Conservatives, three Liberal Democrats, and three from other parties (including Speaker Betty Boothroyd, previously a Labour politician). However, many of the new female MPs grew disillusioned, and nine either chose not to stand or lost their seats in the 2001 general election. Despite two female MPs winning by-elections between 1997 and 2001, and other women being elected, the total number of female MPs fell to 118 at the 2001 general election. A further 22 stood down or lost their seats at the 2005 general election, although the number of female MPs increased again to a new record of 127.

## Perception

According to The Times, Margaret Moran, MP for Luton South, described the "perception that the 1997 intake of female Labour MPs are all robotic clones" as "complete tosh". Moran said that she herself was not a Blair Babe, but a "Blair Witch". The columnist Polly Toynbee condemned the term as a "casual, misogynist tag."

## Implications of the term

The sociological implications of the term and the experiences of Labour's women MPs were extensively analysed by Sarah Childs in her 2004 book New Labour's Women MPs: Women Representing Women. It has been identified as a trivialising way to refer to women in politics, similar to Cameron Cutie. Tony Blair's wife Cherie Blair did not like the term. Margaret Moran said it should not be used. The term has also been used within Parliament to stigmatise some women MPs, separating "young attractive" Blair's Babes from "brainy babe[s]".
Some of the group believe that the term was harmful to their ability to bring about change, and that it encouraged a focus on their appearance. It has been reported that the Daily Mail used the term "to challenge Labour's claim that having 101 women MPs would make a difference".

## Experiences of Blair's Babes as a group

This group of women MPs has sometimes been used as a way to examine women MPs' experiences in Parliament, as in a Guardian article by Rachel Cooke in 2007. Cooke's interviews of ten of the women found that some of them had experienced bullying, sexism and cliques in Parliament, as well as working hours that conflicted with family life. They have also been the subject of "where are they now?" articles.
The journalist Lucy Ward has written of the group,
   The story of the so-called "Blair Babes" ... is a unique tale of soaring expectations, disappointed dreams and indignant rebuttals, with a few political casualties thrown in along the way. It reveals much about the party which, at first, set so much store by women's election, and about the image-obsessed government Britain elected.
As of the 2024 general election, there are five Blair Babes left in the House of Commons, out of a total of 263 female MPs.
* The 5 MPs left as of 2024
* Diane Abbott (1987) Hackney North and Stoke Newington
* Yvette Cooper (1997) Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
* Angela Eagle (1992) Wallasey
* Maria Eagle (1997) Liverpool Garston
* Siobhain McDonagh (1997) Mitcham and Morden

## List

| # | Name | Constituency | Elected | Lost seat/ Stood down | Notes |
| 1. | Diane Abbott | Hackney North and Stoke Newington | 1987 | | In 2023, lost the Labour whip and sat as an Independent MP. Regained the whip in 2024. |
| 2. | Irene Adams | Paisley North | 1990 | 2005 | Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Adams of Craigielea in 2005. |
| 3. | Janet Anderson | Rossendale and Darwen | 1992 | 2010 | Served as a government whip in 1997 and then under-secretary in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Reshuffled after the 2001 election. Lost seat to Conservative Jake Berry. Died in 2023. |
| 4. | Hilary Armstrong | North West Durham | 1987 | 2010 | Served as Government Chief Whip of the House of Commons and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury from 2001 to 2006 then Minister for the Cabinet Office, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Social Exclusion from 2006 to 2007. Retired in 2010, subsequently ennobled as Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top. |
| 5. | Candy Atherton | Falmouth and Camborne | 1997 | 2005 | Lost seat to Liberal Democrat Julia Goldsworthy. Died in 2017. |
| 6. | Charlotte Atkins | Staffordshire Moorlands | 1997 | 2010 | Lost seat to Conservative Karen Bradley. |
| 7. | Margaret Beckett | Derby South | 1983 | 2024 | Previously MP for Lincoln (1974–79). Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Beckett in 2024. |
| 8. | Anne Begg | Aberdeen South | 1997 | 2015 | Lost seat to SNP's Callum McCaig. |
| 9. | Liz Blackman | Erewash | 1997 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 10. | Hazel Blears | Salford/Salford and Eccles | 1997 | 2015 | Retired. |
| 11. | Helen Clark, Helen Brinton at the time | Peterborough | 1997 | 2005 | Lost seat to Conservative Stewart Jackson. |
| 12. | Karen Buck | Regent's Park and Kensington North/Westminster North (2010-24) | 1997 | 2024 | Retired. |
| 13. | Christine Butler | Castle Point | 1997 | 2001 | Lost seat to Conservative Bob Spink. Died in 2017. |
| 14. | Anne Campbell | Cambridge | 1992 | 2005 | Lost seat to Liberal Democrat David Howarth. |
| 15. | Judith Church | Dagenham | 1994 | 2001 | Retired. |
| 16. | Lynda Clark | Edinburgh Pentlands | 1997 | 2005 | Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Clark of Calton in 2005. |
| 17. | Ann Clwyd | Cynon Valley | 1984 | 2019 | Retired in 2019 and died in 2023. |
| 18. | Ann Coffey | Stockport | 1992 | 2019 | Resigned from the Labour Party and joined Change UK. Retired. |
| 19. | Yvette Cooper | Pontefract and Castleford/Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford/Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley | 1997 | | |
| 20. | Jean Corston | Bristol East | 1992 | 2005 | Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Corston in 2005. |
| 21. | Ann Cryer | Keighley | 1997 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 22. | Claire Curtis-Thomas | Crosby | 1997 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 23. | Valerie Davey | Bristol West | 1997 | 2005 | Lost seat to Liberal Democrat Stephen Williams. |
| 24. | Janet Dean | Burton | 1997 | 2010 | Retired |
| 25. | Julia Drown | South Swindon | 1997 | 2005 | Retired. |
| 26. | Gwyneth Dunwoody | Crewe/Crewe and Nantwich | 1974 | 2008 | Previously MP for Exeter (1966–70). Died in office. |
| 27. | Angela Eagle | Wallasey | 1992 | | |
| 28. | Maria Eagle | Liverpool Garston/Garston and Halewood | 1997 | | |
| 29. | Louise Ellman | Liverpool Riverside | 1997 | 2019 | Resigned from the Labour Party and retired. |
| 30. | Lorna Fitzsimons | Rochdale | 1997 | 2005 | Lost seat to Liberal Democrat Paul Rowen. |
| 31. | Caroline Flint | Don Valley | 1997 | 2019 | Lost seat to Conservative Nick Fletcher. |
| 32. | Barbara Follett | Stevenage | 1997 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 33. | Maria Fyfe | Glasgow Maryhill | 1987 | 2001 | Retired. |
| 34. | Linda Gilroy | Plymouth Sutton | 1997 | 2010 | Lost seat to Conservative Oliver Colvile. |
| 35. | Llin Golding | Newcastle-under-Lyme | 1986 | 2001 | Retired. Ennobled in 2001 as Baroness Golding. |
| 36. | Eileen Gordon | Romford | 1997 | 2001 | Lost seat to Conservative Andrew Rosindell. |
| 37. | Jane Griffiths | Reading East | 1997 | 2005 | Deselected. |
| 38 | Harriet Harman | Camberwell and Peckham | 1982 | 2024 | Retired. |
| 39. | Sylvia Heal | Halesowen and Rowley Regis | 1997 | 2010 | Previously MP for Mid Staffordshire (1990–92). Retired. |
| 40. | Patricia Hewitt | Leicester West | 1997 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 41. | Margaret Hodge | Barking | 1994 | 2024 | Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Hodge of Barking in 2024. |
| 42. | Kate Hoey | Vauxhall | 1989 | 2019 | Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Hoey in 2020. |
| 43. | Beverley Hughes | Stretford and Urmston | 1997 | 2010 | Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Hughes of Stretford in 2010. |
| 44. | Joan Humble | Blackpool North and Fleetwood | 1997 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 45. | Glenda Jackson | Hampstead and Highgate | 1992 | 2015 | Retired. Died in 2023. |
| 46. | Helen Jackson | Sheffield Hillsborough | 1992 | 2005 | Retired. |
| 47. | Melanie Johnson | Welwyn Hatfield | 1997 | 2005 | Lost seat to Conservative Grant Shapps. |
| 48. | Fiona Jones | Newark | 1997 | 2001 | Lost seat to Conservative Patrick Mercer. Died in 2007. |
| 49. | Helen Jones | Warrington North | 1997 | 2019 | Retired |
| 50. | Jenny Jones | Wolverhampton South West | 1997 | 2001 | Retired. |
| 51. | Lynne Jones | Birmingham Selly Oak | 1992 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 52. | Tessa Jowell | Dulwich and West Norwood | 1992 | 2015 | Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Jowell in 2015. Died in 2018. |
| 53. | Sally Keeble | Northampton North | 1997 | 2010 | Lost seat to Conservative Michael Ellis. |
| 54. | Ann Keen | Brentford and Isleworth | 1997 | 2010 | Lost seat to Conservative Mary Macleod. |
| 55. | Ruth Kelly | Bolton West | 1997 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 56. | Jane Kennedy | Liverpool Broadgreen/Liverpool, Wavertree | 1992 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 57. | Oona King | Bethnal Green and Bow | 1997 | 2005 | Lost seat to George Galloway (Respect). Ennobled as Baroness King of Bow in 2011. |
| 58. | Tess Kingham | Gloucester | 1997 | 2001 | Retired. |
| 59. | Jackie Lawrence | Preseli Pembrokeshire | 1997 | 2005 | Retired. |
| 60. | Helen Liddell | Monklands East/Airdrie and Shotts | 1994 | 2005 | Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke in 2005. |
| 61. | Fiona Mactaggart | Slough | 1997 | 2017 | Retired. |
| 62. | Alice Mahon | Halifax | 1987 | 2005 | Retired. Died in 2022. |
| 63. | Judy Mallaber | Amber Valley | 1997 | 2010 | Lost seat to Conservative Nigel Mills. |
| 64. | Christine McCafferty | Calder Valley | 1997 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 65. | Siobhain McDonagh | Mitcham and Morden | 1997 | | |
| 66. | Anne McGuire | Stirling | 1997 | 2015 | Retired. |
| 67. | Shona McIsaac | Cleethorpes | 1997 | 2010 | Lost seat to Conservative Martin Vickers. |
| 68. | Rosemary McKenna | Cumbernauld and Kilsyth/Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East | 1997 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 69. | Gillian Merron | Lincoln | 1997 | 2010 | Lost seat to Conservative Karl McCartney. Ennobled as Baroness Merron in 2021. |
| 70. | Laura Moffatt | Crawley | 1997 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 71. | Margaret Moran | Luton South | 1997 | 2010 | Barred from standing as the Labour candidate. |
| 72. | Julie Morgan | Cardiff North | 1997 | 2010 | Lost seat to Conservative Jonathan Evans. |
| 73. | Estelle Morris | Birmingham Yardley | 1992 | 2005 | Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Morris of Yardley in 2005. |
| 74. | Kali Mountford | Colne Valley | 1997 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 75. | Mo Mowlam | Redcar | 1987 | 2001 | Retired. Died in 2005. |
| 76. | Diana Organ | Forest of Dean | 1997 | 2005 | Retired. |
| 77. | Sandra Osborne | Ayr/Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock | 1997 | 2015 | Lost seat to SNP Corri Wilson. |
| 78. | Linda Perham | Ilford North | 1997 | 2005 | Lost seat to Conservative Lee Scott. |
| 79. | Bridget Prentice | Lewisham East | 1992 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 80. | Dawn Primarolo | Bristol South | 1987 | 2015 | Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Primarolo in 2015. |
| 81. | Joyce Quin | Gateshead East/Gateshead East and Washington West | 1987 | 2005 | Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Quin in 2005. |
| 82. | Barbara Roche | Hornsey and Wood Green | 1992 | 2005 | Lost seat to Liberal Democrat Lynne Featherstone. |
| 83. | Joan Ruddock | Lewisham Deptford | 1987 | 2015 | Retired. |
| 84. | Christine Russell | City of Chester | 1997 | 2010 | Lost seat to Conservative Stephen Mosley. |
| 85. | Joan Ryan | Enfield North | 1997/2015 | 2010/2019 | Lost seat to Conservative Nick de Bois. Regained seat in 2015. Resigned from the Labour Party and joined Change UK. Retired. |
| 86. | Debra Shipley | Stourbridge | 1997 | 2005 | Retired. |
| 87. | Clare Short | Birmingham Ladywood | 1983 | 2010 | Resigned from the Labour Party and retired. |
| 88. | Angela Smith | Basildon | 1997 | 2010 | Lost seat to Conservative Stephen Metcalfe. Ennobled as Baroness Smith of Basildon in 2010. |
| 89. | Geraldine Smith | Morecambe and Lunesdale | 1997 | 2010 | Lost seat to Conservative David Morris. |
| 90. | Jacqui Smith | Redditch | 1997 | 2010 | Lost seat to Conservative Karen Lumley. Ennobled as Baroness Smith of Malvern in 2024. |
| 91. | Helen Southworth | Warrington South | 1997 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 92. | Rachel Squire | Dunfermline West | 1992 | 2006 | Died in office. |
| 93. | Phyllis Starkey | Milton Keynes | 1997 | 2010 | Lost seat to Conservative Iain Stewart. |
| 94. | Gisela Stuart | Birmingham Edgbaston | 1997 | 2017 | Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston in 2020. |
| 95. | Ann Taylor | Dewsbury | 1987 | 2005 | Previously MP for Bolton West (1974–83). Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Taylor of Bolton in 2005. |
| 96. | Dari Taylor | Stockton South | 1997 | 2010 | Lost seat to Conservative James Wharton. |
| 97. | Joan Walley | Stoke-on-Trent North | 1987 | 2015 | Retired. |
| 98. | Claire Ward | Watford | 1997 | 2010 | Lost seat to Conservative Richard Harrington. Elected Mayor of the East Midlands in 2024. |
| 99. | Betty Williams | Conwy | 1997 | 2010 | Retired. |
| 100. | Rosie Winterton | Doncaster Central | 1997 | 2024 | Became a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons in 2017. Retired. Ennobled as Baroness Winterton of Doncaster in 2024. |
| 101. | Audrey Wise | Preston | 1987 | 2000 | Previously MP for Coventry South West (1974–79). Died in office. |