Hewitt hits out at 'vile' media attacks on Cherie Blair

Patricia Hewitt, the Minister for Women, has called on the media to stop criticising Cherie Blair about her appearance, saying its treatment of her has been "vile".

Ms Hewitt launched the attack after there was renewed media criticism of Mrs Blair's dress sense earlier this week. She called on the press to lay off Mrs Blair and other women politicians and to comment on their substance not their fashion style.

Her remarks, made at a Women in Journalism meeting at Bournemouth, came after photographs appeared of Mrs Blair in a long jacket with flat hair, accompanied by stories saying her appearance had suffered since the departure of Carole Caplin as her "style guru."

Ms Hewitt, also the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, rallied to Mrs Blair's defence and said she had been singled out for abuse and subjected to more critical scrutiny than any previous "consort" of a prime minister.

She said the late Sir Denis Thatcher had never had to deal with to comments about his hairstyle and suits when he was at No 10, and implied that many of the media attacks on Mrs Blair were sexist.

An aide to Ms Hewitt said she was angry that the media "always use the most outrageous photo and unflattering image" of Mrs Blair and that all women in public life were subject to unfair personal scrutiny by the media.

Mrs Blair, a human rights lawyer, has been the focus of media scrutiny since 1997 when her choice of ankle boots, leggings and bondage-style belts was widely ridiculed.

One tabloid paid for flowers to be delivered to the door of her Islington home first thing in the morning in a stunt designed to get a picture of her in a dressing gown with her hair unbrushed. Photographs have also appeared of her on holiday in a bathing suit, with style commentators devoting yards of commentary to each fashion faux pas and her choice of designer clothes.

Mrs Blair reputedly spends thousands of pounds of her own money each year on expensive outfits, by designers such as Ronit Zilka, and on hairdressing. But she was sharply criticised for hiring Carole Caplin, a former topless model, to advise her on her lifestyle and wardrobe choices.

Other female cabinet ministers have complained about comments on their looks by media commentators when they are at the dispatch box in the House of Commons making major policy statements.

"One minister, I'm not naming names, is more worried about the reaction of the sketch writers than the opposition," confided a senior minister. "She shakes before she has to make a statement."

Yesterday, women's groups said Ms Hewitt was right to attack the press for focusing so heavily on Mrs Blair's image. Katherine Rake, Director of the Fawcett Society, said Mrs Blair was the victim of double standards. "Cherie Blair is one of the most senior women in the judiciary but all they care about is what she is wearing," she said.

Mrs Blair was criticised, soon after her husband was elected to Downing Street. She was lambasted for staring "doe-eyed" at him and leaning on his shoulder adoringly.

She has also had her decision to shop with Carole Caplin attacked, with articles ridiculing her choice of clothers including white kinky boots.

Her reliance on Ms Caplin for advice has created tensions at No 10. Fiona Millar, her adviser, is said to have been mystified by her attachment to the former glamour model, and is departing Downing Street along with her partner Alastair Campbell.

The Prime Minister's wife has no official allowance for clothes and even pays for her personal hairdresser to be flown abroad with her on trips.