Hague shares the limelight with his fiancee

The First Ladies Club

Mr Hague's climb to leader of the Conservative party was given a massive leg-up by his fiancee Ffion Jenkins. She appeared laughing and smiling on his arm at every possible opportunity, whereas before his engagement Hague's best asset was said to be his warm and straight-up Yorkshire accent.

As for Tony Blair, there is no doubt that Cherie Booth was a huge asset during the general election. Her professionalism, intelligence and devotion to her husband gave him am air of trustworthiness which certainly helped him into No 10 Downing Street.

Cherie: successful career

The two first ladies of British politics do share several characteristics. Cherie, 42, and Ffion, 29, have both been highly successful in their respective careers.

It has even been suggested that both women are more capable than their partners, whom they met at work.

After graduating with an English degree from Jesus College, Oxford, and a degree in Welsh from the University of Wales in Aberystwyth, Ffion has carved out a high-flying career in politics, culminating in her position as private secretary in the Welsh Office in 1995.

Cherie's highly successful career has been well-documented. After graduating from the London School of Economics she trained as a barrister and recently became one of the rare breed of female QCs.

Both women have famous fathers from the arty side of life. Cherie is the daughter of `Til Death Us Do Part actor Tony Booth, while Ffion's father is Emyr Jenkins, chief executive of the Arts Council of Wales.

But their lives have taken very different paths. Ffion, otherwise known as "Jolly," comes from one of the best families in Wales and is a member of Welsh high society.

The American and British first ladies

Cherie, on the other hand, began life in a terraced house in Liverpool after her father walked out, leaving her mother with two young daughters.

Now she has became part of the London "in" scene, dining in the trendiest restaurants in Islington and throwing intellectual dinner parties.

The two first ladies share a deep interest in politics. Ffion has been at William's side throughout the leadership contest. The new leader said he would not have run for the top position if she had not been behind the decision.

Cherie herself is also committed to politics, herself standing for a Labour seat in 1983, which she lost.

Both Cherie and Ffion share a common look - neat, tailored and smart. They enjoy wearing well-made practical trouser suits but keep an eye on fashion, with long, sculpted single-breasted jackets.

Cherie and Ffion are both distinctive and attractive with unique but warm smiles.

While Cherie has had to work at getting the right hairstyle, which is photogenic, feminine and practical for a mother and professional woman, Ffion still wears her hair in a young long-and-loose style with a fluffy fringe. Image experts will no doubt soon get to work on this.