Too polite or just political?

JACK Straw was without his trademark glasses - but he could hardly mistake the man in front of him.

Contact lenses, part of a slick new look, put the room at the United Nations in New York into perfect focus.

In efficient ambassadorial mode, Mr Straw was whisking through a whirlwind of handshakes with important figures of world politics.

He wheeled 180 degrees to shake yet another offered hand. But only then he looked to see whose it was.

The extended arm belonged to Robert Mugabe, the much-criticised Zimbabwean leader, who Mr Straw did not know would be present.

As the Foreign Secretary he must have been torn, knowing the political storm that would arise from shaking the hand of a man who caused international outrage by his re-distribution of white land and that millions of his people are starving.

But Mr Straw claimed a very British trait then took over, one that, over the last few centuries, has been seen as both an affliction and a source of national pride - he didn't want to appear rude!

He explained: "I took a decision to continue to shake his hand because it would have appeared gratuitously rude not to.

"Its just one of those things. Mr Mugabe was there and in the circumstances there didn't seem any point in just being rude.

"The fact there is serious disagreement between Zimbabwe and the UK does not mean we should be discourteous or rude."

But his political rivals have not been convinced.

Shadow Foreign Secretary, Michael Ancram, said: "Jack Straw's excuse for this shameful handshake is unbelievable. Whether this was a clumsy accident or ill-judged design, he has sent a powerful message of support to Mugabe, which will have shocked those who seek the restoration of democracy and the rule of law to Zimbabwe."

Lancashire psychologist Robin Gilmour, an expert in social psychology, said he suspected the handshake was conforming to a political code, rather than the overwhelming need to be polite.

Although he stressed that he was guessing because he could not know what Mr Straw was thinking at the time, he explained: "It is political behaviour, which is quite different to politeness.

"It is reasonable to describe it in terms of politeness but I think it is about maintaining lines of communication of diplomacy.

"Politicians are extremely sensitive to potential messages that their behaviour sends out.

"The handshake is a very important political gesture. It signifies that lines of communication are open.

"If he had refused to shake his hand in public it would have signified closing down lines of communication. Either way there would have been a political storm."

He added: "Done with your right hand, the handshake comes from showing that you are not drawing your sword. It is a universal gesture and that's why the photo opportunity of world leaders shaking hands is so common. Diplomats use politeness in a political way.

"Politeness is about social rules and all cultures have social rules.

"Other cultures have similar rules to us but there are many others that have more.

"The Japanese, for instance, have a lot more rules on social interaction than us."

So is the famed British over politeness a myth? It is uncertain when exactly we became known for it.

The Victorian era was renowned for its stuffy etiquette, while the turmoil of war in the early 20th Century was said to make people more humble and polite.

But it is likely that the expansion of the mass media, through films and books, played a huge part as directors and authors played on these stereotypes.

East Lancashire people, however, seemed to believe that being polite is more than just a worthy characteristic.

Catherine Withe, is 42, and lives in the Livesey area of Blackburn. She said: "You have to be polite because there are so many rude people about.

"I find it hard to say if someone pushes in front of me in a queue because I worry about what they will say back."

Michael Stein, meanwhile, a 52-year-old from Bolton Road, Darwen, added: "Being polite doesn't mean you have to be a pushover. But it is right to be courteous as that's how I'd want other people to deal with me."

And pensioner Edith Marsden, 71, of Wilpshire, Blackburn, said: "A smile and a thank you doesn't cost anything does it? It's the right way to be."

But then Peter Meads, 27, of Roe Lee, thinks we should be more like our cousins across the pond.

"It's like Fawlty Towers when the American guy complains and no one can believe it," he said.

"We should be more like that instead of sitting and taking it."