‘My dress slipped because I’ve got a broken ankle’: Labour MP Tracy Brabin blames wardrobe malfunction for THAT ‘inappropriate’ Commons outfit and reveals she rushed to despatch box from ‘music event’
- Tracy Brabin, 58, faced backlash on social media over off-the-shoulder dress
- She revealed she had come from a 'UK music event' and her dress had slipped
- The Batley and Spen MP said she had suffered a broken ankle and 'had to lean'
- Shadow minister branded criticism 'everyday sexism' and vowed to 'push back'
- Ms Brabin became MP for Batley and Spen in 2016 after murder of Jo Cox
Labour MP Tracy Brabin today said her controversial off-the-shoulder dress 'slipped' because she was suffering from a 'broken ankle' and had to lean on the despatch box after racing to the Commons from a meeting with music executives.
Despite her explanation, the shadow Culture Secretary was photographed hours earlier wearing the same dress as she spoke with UK music industry leaders in central London.
The shadow minister hit back at her critics today, accusing them of 'everyday sexism' after she received a barrage of abuse for her revealing outfit from trolls who said she looked like a 'slapper' who had 'just been banged over a wheelie bin.'
Commentators including Piers Morgan have called the outfit 'inappropriate for the Commons' while hitting out at the vile abuse directed towards Brabin.
But the MP said today that she would not change the way she dresses while claiming that she had not expected to be in the Commons on Monday and had rushed there at 5.57pm from a meeting with music executives in London.
A picture shows Brabin at the meeting with record company bosses at lobbying group UK Music, which describes itself as an 'industry-funded body to represent the collective interests of the recorded, published and live arms of the British music industry'.
Speaking on Lorraine on ITV this morning, she blasted the furore as 'every day sexism' and said she felt she should respond to the abuse because women 'around the world don't have that opportunity to push back against those people that patronise them.'
Earlier she appeared on BBC Breakfast wearing a necklace bearing the Suffragette slogan Courage Calls to Courage Everywhere'.
But her comments were blasted by Morgan on Good Morning Britain, who said it was 'not sexist to think this outfit was a tad inappropriate for Parliament.'
Tracy Brabin pictured at the UK music event in central London that she attended in the afternoon before making her appearance in the Commons on Monday. She is pictured with record execs from labels including AIM and BPI
The Batley and Spen MP, who used to be an actress on the ITV soap Coronation Street, also hit back at critics over her black outfit (pictured)
Tracy Brabin pictured today in central London as she climbed into a taxi in central London. Her left leg is in plaster after she broke her ankle
Ms Brabin smiled to photographers as she climbed into a taxi out the Global radio studios in central London today
Hobbling: Footage of Brabin in the House of Commons shows her hopping to the despatch box with a broken ankle
Brabin told Lorraine Kelly: 'I had been at an event with UK Music and the thing about the points of order, they come at you as a surprise, so you're not always camera ready when you are in politics.
'It did slip slightly, because I have a broken ankle and I had to lean a little bit on the dispatch box.'
Footage from the Commons on Monday shows the shadow Culture Secretary hopping to the despatch box just moments before she prepared to deliver her address on Monday evening.
She is using crutches after breaking her ankle falling down the steps of a bus last month.
Ms Brabin was pictured in the dress at a meeting with leaders from the music industry at the offices of UK Music's offices in central London.
She then travelled from there to the House of Commons for the point of order at 6pm.
She told Lorraine that the controversy surrounding her dress would not make her 'think twice' about what she wears, adding: 'Every day you go to work there are cameras in the chamber 24/7.
'I always show the House respect, if there was a problem I'm sure Mr Speaker would tell me.
'I absolutely don't know quite where it came from and I do think it's slightly absurd. You know, we are talking about shoulders, in the scheme of things, when there's so much to discuss it does feel a little silly.'
Ms Brabin, who had been raising a point of order about journalists being asked to leave a Downing Street press briefing on the next stage of Brexit talks, added: 'It is quite extraordinary there is a really important question to the Government about transparency and civil servants potentially breaking their code of integrity, and all people are talking about is the shoulder.
'It's a privilege I have that I have the confidence to brush it off, given my role, and I thought it was really important I replied because lots of women around the country, around the world don't have that opportunity to push back against those people that patronise them.
'Basically, it's everyday sexism. I've been trying to call it out, that there's more going on in Parliament than my shoulder.
THE CLASSIC LITTLE BLACK DRESS... WITH A SEXIER EDGE
ASOS' purse-friendly £35 off-the-shoulder number, which is flying off the online retailer's shelves at lightning speed after Ms Brabin wore it while speaking in the Commons yesterday, offers fashion fans a versatile - and more risque - twist on a timeless classic.
Away from the high street, couture designers have long been fans of this particularly flattering take on the LBD design.
Roland Mouret is currently selling a similar incarnation of the black shoulder-baring dress for a princely £1,757, while US designer Norma Kamali has a more affordable option, retailing at £105.
ASOS £35 version of the classic black pencil dress is made from Bodycon, which ensures it offers wearers a close fit
Was Roland Mouret's 2020 black shoulder-baring dress, which retails at £1,757, the inspiration for ASOS' version? Right, US designer Norma Kamali has a more affordable option, at £105
So, what's the appeal? Versatility; with a smart jacket, the pleated pencil dress can seamlessly become business attire.
And the more daring shoulder element ensures it can be transformed effortlessly into evening wear. A kick-split at the back of the dress makes it comfortable to wear too.
ASOS' cut-price version of the close-fitting classic uses Bodycon to accentuate the figure in all the right places - and might actually be reasonably modest were it not for the more risky off-the-shoulder element.
Indeed, Ms Brabin admitted that the dress' shoulder strap had 'slipped' when she reached to the microphone to speak yesterday.
She went on: 'It does feel it's always a good way to demean women who are in positions of power just talk about what they are wearing and how they look... There's loads to discuss and I know if it was my predecessor, Tom Watson, nobody would be talking about the colour of his tie.'
But Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan hit back at her sexism claims on Twitter.
He said today: 'Trolls that abused Ms Brabin are disgusting, but it's not 'sexist' to think this outfit was a tad inappropriate for Parliament.'
'If a bloke did anything similar and showed that amount of flesh – they all wear suits – I think the man would get the same amount of attention and some criticism and some praise. I just thought it was a little inappropriate.'
Earlier today Morgan ripped off his tie in protest, and said about Ms Brabin's outfit: 'I do think it was inappropriate. If it was a bloke wearing shorts we'd all go 'nooo
Holly Willoughby took an opposing stance when she engaged in a heated debate with Nick Ferrari later on This Morning, as she spoke out in defence of Brabin.
She said: 'Am I the only one who doesn’t find that inappropriate? I could sit there in front of anyone – even a consultant. It’s not making me think it’s adversely sexual. That’s a smart dress!'
Earlier Morgan ripped off his tie in protest, and said about Ms Brabin's outfit: 'I do think it was inappropriate. If it was a bloke wearing shorts we'd all go 'nooo'.
'Come on, wear something that isn't falling off your body.'
Social media has been flooded with memes after Tracy Brabin exposed her shoulder in the Commons
Dozens slated the former actress for having her shoulder exposed while she spoke a the dispatch box
Brabin appeared on BBC breakfast this morning wearing a necklace bearing the Suffragette slogan Courage Calls to Courage Everywhere'
Brabin appeared on BBC Breakfast wearing a necklace bearing the Suffragette slogan Courage Calls to Courage Everywhere',
She said: 'I was startled by the vitriolic nature of (the messages) but it's part of the territory as a politician.
'I am in a privileged position that I can brush this off but I feel it's my responsibility to call it out for those women that don't have that amplification.
'Because there are women around the world putting up with this day in day out.'
'I try not to take it too seriously and it seemed to hit a nerve. The amount of supportive comments I've had absolutely overwhelm the comments about my judgement and what I am wearing.'
In a withering assessment of those taking her to task over her clothing, she said: 'They are anonymous people often, keyboard warriors sat in their mum's back bedroom eating Pot Noodles and having a pop at people they don't know anything about.'
One Twitter user shared a photograph of her wearing the controversial outfit and asked: 'Is this really appropriate attire for parliament?'
Ms Brabin, 58, posted a sharply-worded response hitting back at the people who called her names for the dress
The rebuke came after Ms Brabin delivered a stinging riposte on Twitter last night, saying: 'Sorry I don't have time to reply to all of you commenting on this but I can confirm I'm not....
'A slag, Hungover, A tart, About to breastfeed, A slapper, Drunk, Just been banged over a wheelie bin. Who knew people could get so emotional over a shoulder...'
Ms Brabin, who played Tricia Armstrong in the ITV programme between 1994 and 1997, replaced Jo Cox as Labour MP for Batley and Spen in West Yorkshire, after she was murdered by far-right extremist Thomas Mair in 2016.
Dozens slated the former actress for having her shoulder exposed while she spoke a the dispatch box.
One person asked: 'Has she just fallen out of the pub?', while somebody else commented: 'She should be asked to leave'.
One woman wrote: 'It was inappropriate dress for HofC or any workplace other than a nightclub. You looked silly.'
But others leapt to her defence, with one supporter claiming she could 'wear a bikini' as long as he continues to fight for social causes.
Another posted in support of her: 'Are people forgetting how Boris Johnson rocks up every day? Permanently scruffy, but I guess that's ok...'
The 58-year-old received 17,506 votes in October 2016, despite turnout in her Yorkshire constituency being just 26 per cent - one of the lowest by-election turnouts since the Second World War.
Ms Brabin was named Ms Cox's successor after all other main parties decided not to run against the Labour candidate as a mark of respect.
Tracy Brabin is pictured playing Tricia Armstrong on Coronation Street in 1996 alongside co-star Michael Le Vell
New MP: Tracy Brabin is pictured after winning the by-election for Labour in Batley and Spen, West Yorkshire, on October 21 2016
Who is Tracy Brabin? The Coronation Street actress who swapped TV for politics after murder of Labour MP
Tracy Brabin was born in Batley, half of the West Yorkshire constituency she now represents in Westminster, in May 1961.
She went to grammar school before studying drama at Loughborough University.
Brabin became known for her role as a clumsy waitress called Sandra opposite Only Fools N Horses star David Jason in the ITV sitcom A Bit of A Do in 1989.
She later bagged the role of Tricia Armstrong in Coronation Street in 1994 where she stayed until 1997.
The now-58-year-old also starred in EastEnders as Roxy Drake in the early 2000s.
Tracy Brabin (pictured second from right) is pictured with the late Jo Cox (second from left) before her death and the by-election that saw her replace her as MP for Batley and Spen
Her political interest was first made clear in 1997 when she wrote a newspaper article endorsing the Labour Party, telling of how her father-in-law died on a hospital trolley while waiting to see a doctor.
In 1998 she appeared in a Labour Party political broadcast urging people to join.
She was the lead member of a group of nine actors who wrote an open letter in The Observer newspaper claiming that while they opposed Britain's intervention in the Iraq War, they still supported the re-election of a Tony Blair Labour Government in 2001.
The former actress, who also appeared in Emmerdale, expressed her interest in running for office after the death of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox in June 2016.
The former actress played Tricia Armstrong (centre) in Coronation Street on ITV between 1994 and 1997
Tracy Brabin is pictured (left) as Roxy Drake in EastEnders alongside Michelle Ryan as Zoe Slater in 2001
She was one of two women who threw their hat in the ring to replace Mrs Cox after she was shot and stabbed on the way to a constituency surgery in Birstall, West Yorkshire, on June 16 that year.
Brabin had canvassed for Labour in the Kirklees Council election of 2012 and had worked with Mrs Cox on her campaign against local library closures in the area.
Brabin was voted in as Batley and Spen MP in October after all the other major parties promised they wouldn't contest Labour's seat as a mark of respect for the late Mrs Cox.
A source told The Sun during the by-election campaign: 'Tracy worked very closely with Jo on a number of local issues and is keen to carry on her work.
'She's well known locally, she grew up around here and is seen as the best candidate by the local Labour party.'
Ms Brabin is pictured in Cleckheaton during the 2016 by-election campaign (left) and at a London party in July 2018 (right)
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