If you look ugly or scruffy or odd, people will focus on how you look not what you say. If you look presentable, they might listen, but they certainly won't think better of just you because of your appearance. Looks can hurt politicians, but not help them. Eric Pickles is as serous and important a politician as any at the Cabinet table, but doesn't always get treated that way because he's fat. No Conservative Party conference speech is complete without at least one lame and nasty joke about Eric's weight. See also: Danny Alexander's hair.