The conventional wisdom holds that politicians must be packaged as feeling family types, rather than thick-skinned, sharp-elbowed machines dedicated to self-advancement.

ECONOMIST: Lexington

You come to see that the women attracted to finance are categorically smart, thick-skinned people, many of whom are used to being academically or professionally successful.

FORBES: A Woman's Perspective On Wall Street

So you can safely assume that if there is any blood on her ministerial colleagues and they are a thick-skinned lot on the whole Ms Mowlam meant it to be there.

ECONOMIST: Diss and tell

Are Americans more thick-skinned than Brits?

FORBES: Magazine Article