blair's babes: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/HistoricalJournalistic, Political Commentary, Historical
Quick answer
What does “blair's babes” mean?
A nickname given to the large number of female Labour MPs elected to the UK Parliament in 1997.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A nickname given to the large number of female Labour MPs elected to the UK Parliament in 1997.
The term specifically refers to the 101 female Labour Members of Parliament elected in Tony Blair's landslide victory of 1997. It has since taken on connotations, both positive and negative, regarding tokenism, political loyalty, and the role of women in politics under New Labour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is exclusively British, referring to a specific event in British political history. It has no direct equivalent or common usage in American English.
Connotations
In the UK, connotations are mixed: it can signify a landmark moment for women in politics or be used critically to suggest a group of inexperienced, loyalist MPs. For American speakers, it is likely an opaque cultural reference.
Frequency
Used with moderate frequency in UK political/historical discourse around the 1997 election and its aftermath. Virtually never used in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “blair's babes” in a Sentence
The term 'Blair's Babes' + [verb: was/were/has become] + [predicate]Referring to + 'Blair's Babes'The era of + 'Blair's Babes'Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in political science, history, and gender studies texts discussing UK politics, representation, and New Labour.
Everyday
Rarely used in everyday conversation except in historical/political discussion.
Technical
Not a technical term, but a fixed cultural-political reference.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blair's babes”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blair's babes”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blair's babes”
- Using it as a general term for any female politician.
- Using it to refer to women in politics after the early 2000s.
- Misspelling as 'Blairs Babes' (lacking apostrophe).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is ambiguous. Initially used by the media, often in a patronising or sensationalist way, it was later reclaimed by some of the MPs themselves as a badge of honour for their historic achievement.
No, it is a historically fixed term referring specifically to the 1997 intake. Using it for contemporary politicians would be incorrect and anachronistic.
Most were, as Labour's number of female MPs jumped from 37 to 101. However, a small number were re-elected sitting MPs.
Not directly. Other countries may have nicknames for political groups (e.g., 'the Rat Pack' in Australia), but 'Blair's Babes' is unique in its conjunction of a leader's name, a colloquial term for women, and a specific electoral moment.
A nickname given to the large number of female Labour MPs elected to the UK Parliament in 1997.
Blair's babes is usually journalistic, political commentary, historical in register.
Blair's babes: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbleəz ˈbeɪbz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈblɛrz ˈbeɪbz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of Tony BLAIR and the many new 'BABIES' (new MPs) in parliament in 1997 – most of them women, hence 'Blair's Babes'.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICAL FOLLOWERS ARE CHILDREN/INFANTS (implying dependency, inexperience, or endearment).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason 'Blair's Babes' is a culturally specific term?