If you’re interested in welfare, you’ll know thatGeorge Potter has been one of the most ardent campaigners against the Coalition’s welfare reforms. And, true to form, he spoke in yesterday’s welfare debate. However, it’s not what he said that riled Louise Mensch. It’s what he was wearing.
She was reacting to George’s tweet showing the BBC picture of him speaking:
My contribution at conference: George Potter (Reforming the Welfare System): http://t.co/su1OSYxIZK
— George Potter (@georgewpotter) October 5, 2014
In a series of tweets, Louise and others slated his fashion choices and accused George of whining when he complained. Have a look at these:
Even @Dimblebot, the Dimbleby parody Twitter account got in on the act.
DIMBLEBOT CALCULATES “POTTER” WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE “LIB DEM” PLAN FOR A “CHRISTMAS JUMPER TAX” pic.twitter.com/KEfvFVYua9
— DIMBLEBOT (@DIMBLEBOT) October 5, 2014
Poor George. Doesn’t Louise realise that this year’s Christmas jumpers are already in the shop and are therefore all the rage?
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
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18 Comments
Definitely a Christmas jumper, well done George Potter for pushing the barriers on entrenched attritudes on fashion. Liberate the Christmas Jumper, I say!
I take it Louise Mensch will be fine if she is judged on her looks, or if other mock her looks, or maybe express an opinion that had she been less aesthetically pleasing she would never have got as far as she did in politics…
Of course George has been a vocal opponent of the horrible welfare reforms her ilk relish, she would rather concentrate on a jumper then engage with the argument..
A prime example of why many women do not fair well in politics… they opt for what it looks like not what it is.
The attitude of those in the media who seem to glory in looking down their noses at everyday people caring about politics and wearing regular clothes shows a) how much I like this party and b) how the media really do think a tad too much of their own importance.
@ATF 6th Oct ’14 – 7:17pm
Classic example of understatement ATF.
In plain Northern English, they are self serving expletives who will comment unfavourably on anyone or anything if it sells newspapers etc.
Well said ATF and Steve Way. And well done George Potter for dressing like an ordinary person.
The idea that politics should be restricted to “empty suits” is a symptom of what is wrong with the media and the establshment.
The preamble to our constitution says that none shall be enslaved by conformity. Thank goodness there are some people in the party who refuse to dress like Jeremy Browne.
Don’t know about the jumper, but young people like George Potter are exactly what the LibDems need to attract back their lost voters. The party needs a complete clear out at the top and having read some of his posts on LDV and heard his speech this youngman should be near the top of the list to replace them.
That is the best jumper, at a conference, since Liz (now baroness) Barker c1981.
Even Mr Clegg takes his tie off now and again.
In all seriousness, having to wear a suit and tie all day every day is one of the many things that put “normal” people off standing for Parliament. Even Tony Blair called it “one of the tyrannies of modern life”. At least long pins and collar-studs are out.
Just goes to show what a complete ……… Mensch is and Westminister is well rid of.
I watched the debate and yes I admit George’s Jumper got my attention for all of 2 seconds, then I was more drawn into the substance of what he had to say.
I think he is a remarkable young man for whom I have a huge amount of admiration for, He has campaigned tirelessly for an issue that he is clearly passionate about .
I am sure he will be very successful if he chooses a career in politics, he is very articulate and Interesting. Qualities that many of our current parliamentarians are seriously lacking
@Stephen Hesketh
Well put!
@JohnTilley
Thanks for the kind words, John.
Great jumper, wish I had one like it.
@Well done George. Louise Mensch once has always been a lacking in the brains department – and the fact that she concentrated on your jumper rather than your points shows how lacking she really is.
The best bit is that she complained previously about people cyber-bullying her.
Sorry, let me try that again (computer typo.)
@Well done George. Louise Mensch has always been lacking in the brains department – and the fact that she concentrated on your jumper rather than your points shows how lacking she really is.
The best bit is that she complained previously about people cyber-bullying her.
Ha Ha, she isn’t one to raise the looks question.She doesn’t like the comeback:
Go stretch your face a little more.
Now back to the subtance of the argument… Ssurely more interesting than a christmas jumper.
He actually pulled a clever move.. Good on him!
Suddenly I like George Potter A LOT. Politics needs to belong to people who dress like normal people, not to those in designer suits. Tory-Twitter-land can go do rude things to itself.
Whilst I suppose Louise Mensch believes she looked fantastic today in some expensive powersuit or other, I think I may of just heard George discussing politics on Radio 5. Substance over style every time for me…