Right-wing politicians tend to be better looking than left-wingers, study finds

Effect of attractive looks twice as large for politicians on the right compared to counterparts on the left, possibly because their voters are 'less informed', researchers say

International Development Secretary Priti Patel (PA Wire/PA Images)

Right-wing politicians are more attractive, a study has claimed, and their good looks get them twice as far their opposition counterparts.

Numerous studies have shown physical attractiveness has long been an indicator of success in life.

This appears to translate into right-wing politics too, suggested the research by Professor Jan-Erik Lönnqvist of the University of Helsinki.

Prof Lönnqvist said this could be because many conservative-inclined voters are “less informed”.

His research found left-leaning scholars tend to be more attractive that those on the right, meaning the physical advantage applied only to politicians.

Photographs of liberal and conservative scholars were compared and ranked by attractiveness and their political stance.

The research built on previous work which found conservative politicians running in elections in Australia, the European Union, Finland and the US were more attractive than their competitors.

"The fact that left-leaning scholars are perceived as better-looking is no cause for alarm," Prof Lönnqvist said. "What is worrying, however, is the high degree of importance attached to looks in political elections."

He added: "The results of my study are in concordance with other studies that show that the effect of attractive looks is twice as large for politicians on the right compared to their counterparts on the left.”

Prof Lönnqvist suggested right-wing politicians could be better looking because physical attractiveness could have more of an influence on the selection of candidates in conservative parties.

He added: “One possible reason for the greater influence of looks on right-wing constituents could be that they are less informed. Previous research has also shown that conservative voters have a more concrete, perhaps less sophisticated way of thinking."