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?

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

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

Ken Livingstone, for example, is a twat!

The name Poppy is gorgeous!

Poppy is a lovely name :)

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

Eh? That is absolutely ridiculous!

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

What a plonker!

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

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

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.

That's a stupid comment to make.

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

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

And this comment comes from a guy called Ken!

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

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

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.

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

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).

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.

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

ignorant, out-of-touch and snobbish

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