Fish and chips, wine and cheese, female politicians and scathing analysis of their outfit choices - all pairings that are as cliched as they’re irresistible. A new Labour government brings many things - new policies, new optimism and a shiny new cabinet promising to fix the , end the Rwanda scheme and restore economic growth. But it also brings intense scrutiny to the members of said cabinet - particularly if they are female.
When Sir Keir Starmer’s new Cabinet strode into Number 10 on Friday, they clearly had more pressing things on their minds than what to wear to work, or whether their trousers passed muster. In this, as with so many other things in life, men have it easy. Pop on a grey/black/navy suit, team with a white/pale blue shirt and hey presto - you are officially under the radar.
While there’s nothing to prevent female politicians from wearing the same anonymous uniform every day, women tend to gravitate more towards self-expression. Margaret Thatcher didn’t have to wear pussy bow blouses, but they quickly became synonymous with her personal style; likewise, Theresa May’s leopard print shoes. The issue for women in any office, public or otherwise, is that every iota of self-expression is read into, to the nth degree.
Case in point: Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who chose a menthol green suit for her first day in her new job. As someone wonderfully unafraid of colour, her suit was as bright and bold as we’ve come to expect her outfits to be. But .
