Labour rebel Kate Hoey says female MPs should stop ‘dressing down’ in Commons
2 min read
Female politicians should stop “dressing down” in Parliament because it shows a lack of respect, according to Labour MP Kate Hoey.
The Vauxhall MP said she has never worn a pair of trousers in the House of Commons because it is important to “show people respect if they’re going to respect you”.
Speaking to the Telegraph, she said: "Maybe it's ridiculous and I'm just getting old but I don't like the way people have dressed down completely in Parliament.
“I remember my old agent saying: ‘You have to show people respect if they're going to respect you.’
“And that means dressing properly. I've never worn trousers to meetings in my constituency either."
Ms Hoey - who has faced a vote of no confidence from her local party after voting with the Government on a key Brexit bill - also claimed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his shadow chancellor John McDonnell were “staunch Brexiteers”.
She said: "Well they are, of course. I'm delighted.
“That's why, in a way, having Jeremy there is very important because I think both he and John McDonnell, who were at every single lobby with me and others over the period of the last 25 years on EU matters, understand from a different perspective why leaving is important.
She added: "I think it will be extremely bad if Brexit doesn't happen.
“Some of the Remain side and MPs - there's still a feeling among them that all these people who voted Leave really didn't know what they were doing, they were being a bit stupid and perhaps not outwardly racist but really it was all about racism.
“And that they'll change their mind. It's complete rubbish.”
