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Baby names

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Original poster

Poppy is 'stupid' according to Ken Livingstone

53 replies

peppapigpants · 20/10/2012 14:01

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?

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SomersetONeil · 25/10/2012 05:51

I cannot believe that we, Mumsnet posters on the Baby Name forum of all places, are giving someone a hard time for expressing an opinion on a name. Grin Grin

I can hardly give him a hard time about, given that I do it all the time.

MrsWembley · 24/10/2012 23:14

Oh, please, somebody keep this going. This makes me GrinGrinGrin!

bigbluebump · 24/10/2012 22:21

I don't really like Poppy and find it too cutesy/childish personally, but agree that it is not for the ex Mayor of London to state this on radio! Very rude indeed.

MrsWembley · 24/10/2012 21:42

ignorant, out-of-touch and snobbish

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

Brycie · 24/10/2012 21:40

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

Binkybix · 24/10/2012 21:38

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.

shoobidoo · 21/10/2012 09:07

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).

squoosh · 20/10/2012 23:49

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

Asmywhimsytakesme · 20/10/2012 23:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

echidnakid · 20/10/2012 23:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

shoobidoo · 20/10/2012 21:54

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.

rachel234 · 20/10/2012 21:36

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

MolotovBomb · 20/10/2012 19:57

And this comment comes from a guy called Ken!

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

Bathsheba · 20/10/2012 19:41

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

LonelyCloud · 20/10/2012 18:50

That's a stupid comment to make.

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

KennethParcell · 20/10/2012 14:31

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.

scaevola · 20/10/2012 14:30

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

KennethParcell · 20/10/2012 14:29

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

imustbepatient · 20/10/2012 14:27

What a plonker!

MikeLitorisBites · 20/10/2012 14:24

Eh? That is absolutely ridiculous!

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

eBook · 20/10/2012 14:19

Poppy is a lovely name :)

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

BehindLockNumberNine · 20/10/2012 14:18

Ken Livingstone, for example, is a twat!

The name Poppy is gorgeous!

AreYouAbleMabel · 20/10/2012 14:16

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.

Original poster
peppapigpants · 20/10/2012 14:12

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

OP posts:
Snowflakepie · 20/10/2012 14:09

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.