Posted on 10/02/2002 12:51:59 AM PDT by MadIvan
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| Impressed ... new PM John Major with Caroline Graham at the 1991 interview where he complimented her legs |
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LOVE cheat John Major turned on his saucy charm with a writer from The Sun — then begged us not to spill the beans, we can reveal today.
The then-Tory Premier flirted outrageously with former Sun Woman editor Caroline Graham during a fireside chat at Number Ten.
Major, 59, now reeling from the revelations of his secret four-year affair with Edwina Currie, could not take his eyes off Caroline who was wearing a micro-skirt which rode up to reveal her thighs.
He commented on her lovely legs — and then singled out her ankles for special appreciation.
During the hour-long interview, he also revealed that he wore Marks & Spencer underpants.
Big blue ones, we presume. ROFL! - Ivan
In her explosive diaries Mrs Currie, 55, told how after their affair ended she missed the sight of Major prancing around her Westminster flat in his blue briefs from M&S.
When Caroline returned to The Sun’s offices after the interview in 1991, she told colleagues: “I expected to meet a very grey man.
“Instead I met a very flirty silver-haired charmer — who also had a silver tongue.
“He was quite sexy in his own way and insisted on being very close to me when the photographs were taken.”
Caroline, 36, who now works as a senior writer for the Mail on Sunday, went on: “He had twinkling, mischievous eyes and was very tactile.
“When I shook hands with him he cupped mine with both his hands and held on to me for quite some time while gazing straight into my eyes.”
Caroline, who admitted to being uninterested in politicians, said that she had been bowled over by Major’s charm.
It was Major’s first big interview since taking over from Maggie Thatcher as PM after she was forced to throw in the towel.
However, when Downing Street aides discovered that Caroline planned to write about Major’s flirtatious behaviour, they were highly alarmed.
Major’s press secretary Gus O’Donnell pleaded with us to tone down references to the flirting — and in a spirit of goodwill towards the new Premier we agreed.
Passages referring to Major’s comments about Caroline’s legs — and other saucy asides — were left out.
If the interview had been published in full, the world might have been better prepared for the revelations of Major as a love cheat.
Fellow journalist Antonella Lazzeri, who worked with Caroline, recalled: “Caroline came back buzzing from the interview.
“She was flushed and couldn’t stop talking about Major. She said she had been really surprised at how flirty he was and how charming.
“She said he was much better in the flesh than in his photos, quite attractive and sexy. He had been charm itself and really impressed her.
“He paid her loads of compliments and commented on her legs. She was shocked at how flirty he was.
“Caroline said he exuded power and that she always found that a turn-on.
“We were all stunned, saying, ‘How the hell can you find John Major sexy?’ but she said if we had met him we would have felt the way she did. He was totally different to how she remembered him.
“She went on about it all day, giggling at some of the things he had said.
“Our then editor told her he thought she was mad for saying Major was sexy and a flirt. We all had quite a laugh about it — but Caroline has been proved right.”
Caroline recorded in the published interview: “John Major is in a perky mood. He strides into the lavish White Room at No10, gives a broad, relaxed grin and clasps my hand warmly.
“‘Hello! How lovely to meet you’, he says. ‘I feel a bit embarrassed because I haven’t shaved for a while. Do you think I look smart enough for the pictures?’
“The first thing that hits you about John Major is that he is anything but grey.
“He grins, flirts, laughs frequently and looks into your eyes constantly.
“Within a few minutes of meeting him, you realise the public image of the dull man in the grey suit is a million miles from the real John Major.
“He’s warm and witty — and he cares passionately about his family. John Major is dazzling, charming and flirtatious.
“What does he find attractive in a woman? I ask nervously. With a big smile and a wink, he gazes into my eyes and replies, ‘Eyes. Eyes and smile. Are you surprised?”
Caroline also recorded intimate details about Major’s shopping habits.
He told her: “I’ve never bought a suit at Marks & Spencer. I’ve bought lots of things there over the years — shirts, socks, the usual things — but never a suit!
“I think the image many people have of me is pure fiction but there’s nothing I can do about it and if I complain about it I might make the image come true.
“If I spent my life worrying about it I’d have a very miserable life. Unknown to the public I do have a sense of humour, don’t you think?”
Since Major’s affair with Mrs Currie was revealed, several women have told how they swooned in his presence.
In the flesh, he shed his dull and boring image and changed effortlessly into a debonair charmer who had a smooth way with words.
Caroline concluded her article by saying: “Outside No10, I step into the waiting cab and the driver says, ‘That John Major, he’s a nice bloke isn’t he? He’s one of us’.
“Having met him, the answer has to be a very definite ‘Yes’”.
JOHN Major was hit in the pocket yesterday when a company where he is a director suffered a sharp fall in its shares.
Engineering firm Mayflower Corporation — which makes Dennis, Plaxton and Alexander buses — hired the former PM as a director in January 2000. But yesterday the company admitted delayed orders have led to a profits setback.
That sent shares in Mayflower crashing 17p to 29.5— which means Major has lost £37,000 of the £61,000 he spent on them last February.
The ex-Premier was paid £105,000 by Mayflower last year for his non-executive directorship, which involves attending four board meetings a year.
Regards, Ivan
Regards, Ivan
Oh no, there was never anything to suggest he was a poofter. Just...grey.
Regards, Ivan
Regards, Ivan
He should have had sufficient dignity to keep his hands to himself. If he wants to fiddle about, do it on his own time, i.e., when he's out of office, but not when the dignity of our government is at stake.
Regards, Ivan
Except Major and Clinton hated each other.
Regards, Ivan
sure. like idiotic he-dogs competing for territory.
For that matter, so will the brunettes.
Just a slip of dignity by the old boy.
Pip pip... chin up. I hope he doesn't blubber on like our governor from KY!
I see..I've found the right place for intelligent discourse, eh?
Well speaking for myself, only one does. ;)
Regards, Ivan
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