Derbyshire isn’t the first journalist to try to liven up a political interview with personal questions. But it’s worth remembering that Ardern is frequently asked questions about her relationship with her partner and her attitude towards motherhood in a way that seems distinctly gendered.

In 2017, the New Zealand PM was asked whether she planned to have a baby within seven hours of taking office, something she rightly shot down as “totally unacceptable”. She’s had to endure numerous sexist encounters since – so it’s perhaps unsurprising that the BBC interview has raised eyebrows in New Zealand.

“Certainly a lot of New Zealanders would see such probing of the prime minister about her relationship with her partner and her plans for marriage as being inappropriate,” New Zealand-based political commentator Bryce Edwards told The Guardian.

Here’s the thing: the New Zealand PM’s private relationship should not be framed as something with the ability to dent her feminist credentials. It’s perfectly plausible that Ardern isn’t fussed about marriage at all. But even if she is, there must be more significant ways to judge whether a head of government lives up to her stated belief in gender equality than whether or not she wants to get down on one knee to her partner, Monica Geller-style.

Ultimately, we should judge female politicians on their policy records – not whether or not they’ll propose.

Images: Getty Images

Jacinda Ardern was just asked if she would propose to her partner – because she’s a feminist