Poppy is 'stupid' according to Ken Livingstone

[peppapigpants]

He was on LBC this morning talking about the George Osborne/train incident, apparently Osborne's assistant is called Poppy. Livingstone and his co-host David Mellor agreed that Poppy was a stupid name and he should have employed someone called 'Sharon or something'.

I don't know anyone called Poppy but it was a ridiculous comment, wasn't it?

[ivykaty44]

So Ken Livingston judges woman (and perhaps men) on the name their parent gave them.

He would rather employ a woman whos parent names them Sharon or something.

Thank goodness my parents didn't name me something

[vamosbebe]

So... Ken is the name of a plastic doll with no genitals? Should have been called Keith, or something.

Mr Livingstone, thou art a wanker.

[aufaniae]

It does sound ridiculous. Are you sure it wasn't a joke / tongue-in-cheek?

It's the kind of thing I can imagine sounding awful out of context but might have made sense as a joke at the time. Did you hear it?

[Snowflakepie]

What a ridiculous comment to make. What does the name of his assistant have to do with Osborne being a stuck up idiot, exactly? Yet another example of the arrogance of some of the people allegedly in power. Jog on, idiots.

[peppapigpants]

Yes, I heard it, they commented on the name several times, also on her hyphenated surname which they suggested she had made-up

[AreYouAbleMabel]

Such an idiotic comment to make....but really it just reflects the small minded stupidity of the person making the comment. Poppy while I wouldn't use it myself is a really lovely name.

[BehindLockNumberNine]

Ken Livingstone, for example, is a twat!

The name Poppy is gorgeous!

[eBook]

Poppy is a lovely name :)

They've shown themselves up to be ignorant, out-of-touch and snobbish.

[MikeLitorisBites]

Eh? That is absolutely ridiculous!

He should be ashamed and he certainly owes Poppy a big apology.

[imustbepatient]

What a plonker!

[KennethParcell]

well, it's not a name i'd choose, but why did he single out that name?

[scaevola]

Ken has huge form for prejudiced and bigoted comments. He never apologises either. I'm very glad he retired from public life.

[KennethParcell]

right i see now. well that's weird alright. it's not such an unusual name that it would be the most memorable thing about a cv! whether you'd choose it or not it's a normal name.

[LonelyCloud]

That's a stupid comment to make.

It's not as if Poppy is some freakishly outlandish name.

[Bathsheba]

My name is Sharon (pronounced a bit different to normal but still...) and DD1 aged 8 is called Poppy. I know which name I prefer...!!! And Poppy is in no way a fluffy headed pointless thing - I presume the idea was that a Poppy would be like Bubble in AbFab

[MolotovBomb]

And this comment comes from a guy called Ken!

In the words of Trey Parker and Matt Stone: what a total "dickfartfuckface".

[rachel234]

Poppy isn't a name I would choose, but agree that it wasn't a nice comment.

[shoobidoo]

Well, I'm not keen on Poppy (or other trendy cutesy names) but not sure why he had to comment publicly like that.

I quite like the sound of Sharon though.

[squoosh]

I might have thought but also wouldn't have said.

[shoobidoo]

Yes, I would have thought it but there is no need to say it. Although it seems ok on mumsnet (to call names stupid, silly, awful or whatever).

[Binkybix]

I also think the name Poppy is a bit silly, but would not say it, and it's a realllllly odd thing to focus on in an interview.

[Brycie]

Ken Livingstone is stupid, according to me. Surely I can't be the first to post that.

[MrsWembley]

ignorant, out-of-touch and snobbish

Loving that this has been written about Red Ken...