Who is Gerry from Out on a Limb and what is their importance?

Gerry is an English politician who is married and has several children. Gerry is once a young husband whose wife dies in childbirth, so as a result of this tragedy he finds himself married to a woman he does not love and does not find happiness with. This leads Gerry to an affair with Shirley MacLaine. However, the affair takes Gerry's concentration from his work and his family, causing him to back away from Shirley, eventually leading to the end of the affair.