A Labour MP has come under fire over her outfit choice in the Commons today – pouring fuel on the fire of a row over dress codes tabled by Gen Z Parliamentarians.
Carolyn Harris, who represents Neath and Swansea East, had raised a question to Sir Keir Starmer on Christmas hampers in South Wales at PMQs earlier today.
As she did so, Harris was pictured sporting a black t-shirt and leather jacket – which has earned her considerable ire as a result.
Political commentator Lee Harris launched into a scathing tirade against the Welsh Labour deputy leader – calling for her ejection from the Commons entirely over her “disrespectful” attire.
Harris’s attire has earned her considerable ire as a result
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“The House of Commons really has gone downhill over the years,” Harris wrote. “This Labour MP could at least show some respect and wear something smart.”
He later added: “It’s very clear she showed a shocking lack of respect for the House.
“She shouldn’t have been called to speak, but Lindsay Hoyle called her anyway.
“She really should have been ejected from the chamber.”
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‘It’s interesting how there’s a strict dress code for men in the House of Commons, but for women apparently anything goes,’ Adrian Hilton said
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Meanwhile, conservative author and academic Adrian Hilton wrote: “It’s interesting how there’s a strict dress code for men in the House of Commons, but for women apparently anything goes.
“What would the Commons Speaker say if a male MP turned up looking like a Dick Emery biker in a leather jacket over a pink/black T-shirt?”
It comes just days after a row erupted over Parliamentary dress after a “group of young new MPs railing against the system” came forward to decry several long-held Westminster traditions.
“We’ve got a lot of new people with good ideas. We need to keep up with the times,” one Labour insider told The Sun – with a looser dress code like no ties in the Chamber mooted as one suggestion.
Starmer’s Gen Zs are pushing to relax Parliament’s dress code
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In response, chairman of the LGBT+ Conservatives Luke Robert Black said: “Newly elected Labour MPs apparently are fed up of wearing a suit and tie to the Houses of Parliament.
“You are an MP. You’re working for one of the oldest modern democratic institutions in the world – standards of dress matter. Traditions matter.”
In response to the group’s push, a Government source said: “We set up the [Modernisation Committee] in order to modernise Parliament, make Commons procedures more effective, improve standards, culture and working practices.
“Whilst the Commons needs to modernise, move with the times, and rebuild trust, we have some important conventions which help uphold our democracy. The Committee will seek to strike this balance.”
GB News has approached Carolyn Harris for comment.
