Published: August 21st 2009 - at 7:58 pmTop Tory: I would only select fit women
The number of Tories who keep airing their views and embarassing leader David Cameron seems to be never-ending.
Alan Scard is in charge of selecting a Tory candidate for Gosport, where the sitting MP Sir Peter Viggers quit after trying to claim for a floating duck house on expenses.
In an interview with Channel 4 News today, when asked if he supported David Cameron’s attempts to introduce more women into parliament, he said:
If they are attractive yeah I would go for it.
He then added:
I suppose a woman…if they are attractive…I know it’s a sexist thing to say but you could get the blokes saying ‘Oh you know I would vote for her because she’s really attractive’ but then the other women say ‘Oh I don’t like her she’s too attractive.’
The chairman of Gosport Conservative Association is in the process of selecting a would-be MP from a list of candidates approved by Tory headquarters.
But Channel 4 News has learnt that activists in the Hampshire seat have clashed with the Conservative leadership over the type of MP they want.
More at Channel 4 News website.
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Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
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Story Filed Under: News
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Reader comments
In the circumstances, it’s difficult not to infringe the rule that “Misogynist, racist, homophobic and xenophobic comments will be deleted”. Nevertheless, in the spirit of comradeship, allow me to offer the following:
These things never go away. There’s always an unreconstructed neanderthaler with a loose mouth. The Tories still have them (whom we post-modernist progressives never stop blessing).
However, such asinine behaviour was not always so restricted.
A moment from around 1970. As Secretary of the Constituency Labour Party, I had been a shoo-in as a candidate for the Borough elections. My wife was, after some persuasion, also nominated.
When she came up for selection, she was asked: “If you are elected, what about your two children?”
Sweetly, she turned to the questioner (a woman, as it happens), and responded: “My children have two parents. Did you ask that of my husband?”
Hence she was instantly identified as a women’s libber and bra-burner.
[On election night, in an "unwinnable" ward, she came close enough to be very, very worried.]
On which historical precedent, Tories like those in Gosport should be fit for the modern world about the middle of the 21st century.
On the other hand, the so-called “attractive” Tory candidates seem to be either Mad Nads or lobby-fodder (as Ms Cloying Chloe Smith).
Heh. He knows he dropped a bollock, doesn’t he?
I’m sure the attractiveness of a female (and male for that matter) candidate is a consideration for all parties. They just don’t want to talk about it.
Meh. Whatevs. When politics is bust, they’ll vote for the hottie they wouldn’t mind seeing more of.
BTW, this guy? Toast.
Heh, a moron, but not really a “top Tory”, is he?
He’s very blunt but I suspect there may be some (unfortunate) truth behind his logic. These days being photogenic certainly helps.
And frankly we could do with more lookers in Parliament 
He’s not exactly a looker himself is he? A horribly ugly face.
The worst thing is that he drops himself in it twice, first then again after he’s realised he’s done it.
I thought Chloe Smith was attractive until someone pointed out she looks like Ruth Kelly.
Anyone who’s met a straight woman knows that the women in most constituencies wouldn’t say no to an attractive, strapping young lad like that doctor fellow. So it’s not just men who make these sorts of remarks.
Anyone who’s met a straight woman knows that the women in most constituencies wouldn’t say no to an attractive, strapping young lad like that doctor fellow. So it’s not just men who make these sorts of remarks.
From William Pitt to Brad Pitt? What about the issues?!
redpesto
As the rubric to this comment box makes clear, misogyny is an issue.
Fair enough
Reactions: Twitter, blogs
- Splintered Sunrise
RT @libcon: Top Tory: I would only select fit women http://bit.ly/UVYgB < @HarpyMarx, this is one for your scalpel!
- sophyridge
Just when Cameron thinks its going ok,another barmy Tory messes it up RT@libcon Tory: I’d only select fit women 4 seat http://bit.ly/UVYgB
- Andy_Francis
Wallies RT@sophyridge Just when Cameron thinks its going ok RT@libcon Tory: I’d only select fit women 4 seat http://bit.ly/UVYgB
- David Wooding
He should sign up A-level students from today’s papers! RT @sophyridge: @libcon Tory: I’d only select fit women 4 seat http://bit.ly/UVYgB
- sunny hundal
Video of Tory who said he wanted an attractive woman candidate now here: http://is.gd/2skEP – excellent scoop by @cathynewman
- Rachel Johnson
RT@pickledpolitics Video of Tory who said he only wanted an attractive woman candidate: http://is.gd/2skEP – excellent scoop by @cathynewman
- Katherine Bavage
RT @pickledpolitics – Video of Tory who said he wanted an attractive woman candidate now here: http://is.gd/2skEP – #moretorydisarray
- Katherine Bavage
RT @libcon Liberal Conspiracy » Top Tory: I would only select fit women http://bit.ly/k8zNz #blueblunders
- Chie Elliott
RT @pickledpolitics: Video of Tory who said he wanted an attractive woman candidate: http://is.gd/2skEP – excellent scoop by @cathynewman
- Splintered Sunrise
RT @libcon: Top Tory: I would only select fit women http://bit.ly/UVYgB < @HarpyMarx, this is one for your scalpel!
- sophyridge
Just when Cameron thinks its going ok,another barmy Tory messes it up RT@libcon Tory: I’d only select fit women 4 seat http://bit.ly/UVYgB
- Andy_Francis
Wallies RT@sophyridge Just when Cameron thinks its going ok RT@libcon Tory: I’d only select fit women 4 seat http://bit.ly/UVYgB
- David Wooding
He should sign up A-level students from today’s papers! RT @sophyridge: @libcon Tory: I’d only select fit women 4 seat http://bit.ly/UVYgB
- sunny hundal
Video of Tory who said he wanted an attractive woman candidate now here: http://is.gd/2skEP – excellent scoop by @cathynewman
- Rachel Johnson
RT@pickledpolitics Video of Tory who said he only wanted an attractive woman candidate: http://is.gd/2skEP – excellent scoop by @cathynewman
- Katherine Bavage
RT @pickledpolitics – Video of Tory who said he wanted an attractive woman candidate now here: http://is.gd/2skEP – #moretorydisarray
- Katherine Bavage
RT @libcon Liberal Conspiracy » Top Tory: I would only select fit women http://bit.ly/k8zNz #blueblunders
- Chie Elliott
RT @pickledpolitics: Video of Tory who said he wanted an attractive woman candidate: http://is.gd/2skEP – excellent scoop by @cathynewman
- Fabienne
@MichaelCox @JamesTart Tories are only picking attractive women anyway, so sayeth ‘Top’ Tory: http://bit.ly/b4Wsx
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