AIBU to question criticism of a female MP’s outfit in maiden speech?

[Browningpers]

Spectator article asking whether Hannah Spencer’s outfit detracted from her maiden speech. Seen similar elsewhere too.

I can’t ever recall the same being asked of a male politician.

Article by a woman too.

AIBU?

I think she looks great and her hair is lovely. Although you're right OP, what she wears is irrelevant, I'm sure her politics lends itself to more appropriate criticism.

The outfit was to distract from the speech which was basically I don't give a shit about women's rights and Muslim rape gangs...but hay the leader of the party believes you can grow women's breasts by hypnotism...

The Spectator obviously wanted their article about Hannah Spencer to be talked about, and they’ve succeeded, as we’re talking about it. However, more people are talking about HS’s outfit and her speech, which was brilliant. So if there has to be a winner here, I’d say it was HS.

If this is true (and I'll take your word for it as I have not seen the speech and the OP didn't link it) then shouldn't her opponents and "objective" journalists criticise THAT rather than her clothing?

From the images I can find online, I think that most people who watch the televised speech will see her from the waist up in a pink blouse and a lavender vest: not shocking or even inappropriate, in the context of the HOC but perhaps people expect something different from someone making a ceremonial speech than from MPs just showing up every day. If you manage to see her bright green trousers too, you get a bit of a US 1980s "Preppy Handbook" vibe - probably a bit more aesthetically conservative that she might have intended, but not inherently disharmonious.

The speech wasn’t about that at all. If it had been, I can assure you The Spectator would have been all over it. As it was, the only thing they found worth criticising was her outfit.

It's an unexpected look in the HoC but quite refreshing to see a young woman looking like a young woman. I can't stand her politics however she dresses.

It reminds me of when Teresa May was criticised for wearing a pair of £1000 trousers - yet I never saw anyone question how much David Cameron or Rishi Sunak or Keir Starmer pay for their suits.

The outfit was fine but it's amazing how all the 'dress how you please' people are criticising it. Hannah Spencer is an anti-racist and isn't transphobic - hence the misogynistic attacks on her.

I don't like it, but it's not ridiculous, and surely it shouldn't matter as long as it is respectable enough for the house which it is.

It was just some clothes and it's shallow to focus on appearance over content.

The Spectator has their agenda but it's pretty feeble analysis.

She was dressed appropriately for the role.

Totally, it was a suit. Nothing wrong with that. The fact I thought it was ugly is neither here nor there, it was fine for the purpose. And if it made her feel confident in what must have been an intimidating moment, then fair play to her.

I know you’re making a different point - that women’s fashion choices are often commented on and men’s aren’t - but Keir Starmer’s and Rishi Sunak’s suits have definitely both been discussed in the media! KS’s suits were discussed because some were bought for him by Lord Alli, and RS’s because they were designer and everyone knows he’s married to a billionaire heiress, so he was seen as out of touch.

Wear what makes you happy. If the Spectator doesn't like it so what?

It's a very misogynistic world where women are constantly judged on appearance when it has little or no bearing on her ability to do her job.

Disappointing but not surprising.

A hundred years of women in Parliament and we’re still talking about their fucking clothes.

https://www.independent.co.uk/politics/first-women-mps-female-suffrage-uk-parliament-house-of-commons-a8659421.html

It’s Angela Rayner. And that’s a delightful description from your nephew.

She is not dressed inappropriately. May not be a colour scheme you would put together but she is not in a boob tube or pjs in parliament

Due to that I dont think it matters what she wore. Personally I quite like the pink top.

Aye did he yeah 👍 🥱

Funnily enough, when I saw a clip of her giving her maiden speech, I thought well done her for wearing something distinctive and standing out. So I groaned when, yet again, a woman is attacked for what she wears. Neither her clothes nor her politics do anything for me, but I'm pleased to see her in the House if Commons because she is relatable to many people, including me.

Paul Marshall looks like he'd be an attractive and dapper butch lesbian if he was a woman, but actually is an unattractive man.

I noticed it and I am the least observant person. It probably caused comment because it is such a vile colour!

This is a depressing thread.

That was my thought too.

Not so much what she wears, although it could induce a migraine at 20 yards, its the shit that comes out of her mouth that we should be concerned about