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.”
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
