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 the Green Party is nuts but I am enjoying the extent to which they clearly terrify the right wing Reform crew.

a) She's not dressed like a clown.

b) Your outmoded view on what style of dress constitutes a level of respect for the role is irrelevant as the Speaker has deemed her outfit perfectly acceptable.

c) The outfit she chose had absolutely no bearing on her ability to do the job of delivering her speech.

I don’t think you’ve once said she looks like a ‘scruffy meff’ (mess maybe?) but you’ve said a few times she looks like a clown, that she’s dressed inappropriately etc.

She doesn’t look scruffy by any measure, the outfit is a bit marmite because of the clashing colours but you (not exclusively but quite extremely) have determined it means she doesn’t have respect for her position or is unsuitable for the role. I think if you’re going to conclude that based on zero knowledge about the constituency, her positions on anything etc, just simply the fact she’s wearing bright clothes, then the only ‘meff’ is your critical thinking.

Same. I wonder if Melanie McDonagh will be doing an article on Tice’s tax planning. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/reform-deputy-leader-richard-tice-tax-5r93t6dg8

Probably that will pass by all the posters who can’t see past a jazzy outfit.

Is wearing a colourful scalloped waistcoat with another colourful shirt somehow unprofessional?
is it more or less unprofessional than a previous PM not tucking his shirt in or brushing his hair??
I know which one i feel projects disrespect, and its not the former...

I dont think anyone who actually cares about MPs doing their job cares about what they are wearing.

And anyone pretending this is important has a (not very well hidden) alternate agenda to belittle women with left-leaning political beliefs.

I don't think they terrify Reform. The Greens won't be taking any of their votes. They probably terrify Labour though.

We will have to agree to disagree on that one.

I'm more interested in how MR'S behave and what they say than how they dress. I can't stand the braying often seen from many of the ignorant people in there. She's in trousers, shirt and waistcoat, just of brighter colours than often seen. Hardly the same as turning up in her pyjamas or something.

Reform are so transparently sexist, rude and ignorant and this is just a further example of their poor manners and behaviour. I'd be so embarrassed to openly side with them on anything.

The court analogy is a good one, actually. When I worked in the law I didnt feel the need to dress in particularly garish colours or wear my hair like Vicky Pollard. Definitely not in court as we would be dealing with serious matters, often involving death, where it was respectful to dress appropriately (as in Parliament). Not all people in court are barristers or judges so not all people were in gowns and wigs, but everyone seemed to avoid overt fashion shows or making "statements" using their clothes. Somehow.

It's a shame the Green MP is now known by most people for her outfits rather than what she says (apart from her supporters).

Why do some people have to make everything about gender? The dress code for the house of commons is 'business attire'.
Anyone male or female should be adhering to that.

Sex not gender. And she is wearing business attire, many people who work in business probably wear similar nowadays. There's no need for everyone to look exactly the same. Trousers, shirt and waistcoat make a perfectly sensible outfit.

It isn't primarily about whether party A takes votes directly from party B - when any party loses a seat, they have to think about which party won and why, and what that might mean across all the other seats.

No, but she isn't going to be taken seriously when she dresses like a clown.

If you agree they're nuts you should also be a little concerned if they continue gaining popularity.

Not really. Greens voters are highly unlikely to vote for a right wing party so their voters will make no difference to the Conservatives/Reform. But they will take Labour votes. So Im not sure why you picked out Reform rather than Labour as being the party that would be scared by the Greens.

Although TBF any normal person, on the left or right, would be pretty worried about this country if the Greens got in.

Since you worked in law you’ll know that the rules and culture are different. A maiden speech is clearly not the same as dealing with a death.

It’s a shame that some people are so shallow that they allow a person’s outward appearance to blind them to what’s being said, I agree.

"I'm more interested in how MR'S behave and what they say than how they dress"

Yes it's a shame that most people will be more interested in what she is wearing than what she is saying from now on. That's the trap she has fallen into; thinking Parliament is a fashion show. Her clothes are a distraction and are doing the talking for her.

I don't think her critics are confined to Reform either.

Yes I agree. She has made her clothes the thing that is most interesting about her for most people. Shame really.

She was in Parliament. There were discussions about Iran. Quite serious, no? It wasn't all about her.

Being 'blinded to what's being said' is quite appropriate in this instance when the speaker chooses to dress in 'dayglo' colours that assault the eye.

If they had a majority, yes.. As an individual this candidate seems sincere about uniting her community. I liked her outfit & would wear it myself when in the right mood. I hope she survives the reality of parliamentary process.

I wish the greens had solid plans for environmental issues, but at least one of them needs to address overpopulation, ( rather by educating women than sterilising unhappy children though). It used to be a core policy for them but it's not a vote winner. I think Hannah is an admirable role model for young women for her achievements so far.

Business attire in 2026 is not confined to a grey suit from Next.

The people of G&D took her seriously.

You must find life quite difficult if you can't follow a conversation because someone is wearing colourful trousers.

You know I never said that, so stop being silly.

That says a lot more about them than her.

Her campaign literature exhorted voters to "Punish Labour for Gaza", so I'm not sure what they think she will achieve on their behalf ?