To think Tracy Brabin should be able to wear what she wants ?

[Clawdy]

She's been the subject of criticism and vitriol all day about her dress, which she apparently wore to an earlier social event. She's a bright, lively and committed MP, who cares what she wears?

Erm ok

I'm a radical feminist. She's been abused, and it looked like an accidental shoulder slip anyway.

BUT. I think MPs of either sex should dress respectfully and smartly in parliament - and that means jackets for both men and women. Respect the House FFS. You're not on a trip to a nightclub.

@OxfordCat can you stop @ing me to insult me ? You've misunderstood my post, your comprehension skills are clearly shite, please stop wasting my time.

Whatever we think of her outfit, the misogynist language used against her was completely unacceptable. End of story, as far as I'm concerned. No 'but'. We can't allow women to be spoken to/of as tramps, slags, sluts because of their clothing. It has to be called out.

The whole of Boris Johnson is unnecessary flesh

Her clothing wasn't offensive but it was unprofessional for the occasion. Certain positions require formal dress, such as a PP referred to representing a client in court or the Mayor commenting on a serious incident. People do keep changes of clothing in their offices for that reason.

If you've ever been to a barristers chambers on a Sunday before a court case it's really odd to see people in jeans

The criticism of her is not - for once - sexist in my view. None of the male MoPs would get away with being so unprofessionally underdressed. Many places of work still have a formal dress code. I have to wear a black or navy or dark grey suit for work. Her clothing was not suitable for the H of P. She should not have been abused though. That is - as always - entirely uncalled for.

She should have put a smart jacket over the top for the House of Commons.
It wasn't appropriate to wear on it's own.
I doubt she will make that mistake again
Just a shame she's been trolled for it but that's SM for you

@Clawdy

YABU. Although the woman didn't deserve all the trolling and vitriol, the outfit she wore was ridiculous for the professional environment she works in.

Totally agree on Boris.

The abuse she received was pretty typical for a woman in public life. Being a visible woman, whatever you choose to wear, means you’ll be abused. I think what she wore was an odd choice for speaking in the H of C but a woman is subject to much more criticism and judgement of her clothing and appearance than a man is. Theresa May had all kinds of shit over her choice of clothes and shoes rather than (justifiably) for her politics.

I can hardly believe I'm writing this as a lifelong ardent feminist. I felt the same way about her bare shoulder as I did about that high ranking police officer with the spikey-punky hair-do. I defend any woman's right to wear what they want (clothes and hair) in most settings but at work, if in the Houses of Parliament or representing the police, can you cool it with the bare shoulders and the hair gel in favor of looking professional.
God I hated typing that. Am I now old?

There’s a reason that Angela Merkel chose a suit-type outfit that she was happy with and then, like our own dear Queen , had it made for her in every colour. Adopting a uniform shielded her from some of the bullshit.

I think hair is a matter for personal conscience.

I refer you to exhibit A

@Floribundance Who/what is THAT?

I was surprised by what she was wearing, but only because I've been in the officials box when the SoS's private secretary was told off for removing her cardigan as she had bare arms!

The trolling and abuse is not acceptable but she should know how to dress appropriately. And that dress was inappropriate for work. I mean who the hell turns up for work in a business environment in an off the shoulder evening dress? It was very poor judgement.

Michael Fabricant MP

I refer you to exhibit A

Case. Closed!

It wasn’t an evening dress. Apart from the neckline it was a perfectly ordinary black frock. Anyone would think she’d turned up in a bloody ball gown. What happened to a woman’s right to wear what she wants? This criticism is on a par with a saying a woman “asked for it” because she exposed her cleavage or wore a short skirt. Feminism is really going backwards.

You know, they used to turn up in Parliament straight from the farm. In later years , drunk and stray from the gaming houses. No women in those days. This idea of dressing for the position is outmoded. It’s a control and is controlling. It’s used and judged as a uniform. As so many sensible people have said, reason and dress do not necessarily go hand in hand. We should be supporting women’s choices by listening to what they say rather than judging what they choose to wear. There is no respect the house, respect the person.

Most of the comments here seem to be missing the fact that she wasn't expecting to have to go in to the HOC. She chose the dress for an entirely different occasion and wasn't able to get changed. Therefore she doesn't deserve to be called unprofessional.

She must have known she was going to end up at the HC. Couldn’t she have put a light jacket of some kind in a bag. It wasn’t professional. That is the point.

A lot of male behaviour in the Commons isn’t professional. Nobody turns a hair. Double standards.

Michael Fabricant MP

Blimey. I don't have the words!