I Don't CARE about SHOES!

Look. I know women have far more fascinating wardrobes. I mean, no matter how metrosexual the male side of the world is (apparently) becoming, there's a limit to how much spicing up you can do as a man, in the wardrobe department. Alright, so there's the eternal dilemma about what sort of suit you wear. And some people try and choose a decent tie, trying to work out whether they should seem happy and relaxed by showing a gentler side of politics with a Snoopy tie... or whether they should seem serious and elegant with a dark blue tie. Oh. Then there's the hairstyle choices for male politicians: short, or short? You know, other than that, there's not much choice for us poor, beleaguered males.

So, we've established that the wardrobe choices for women in general and women in politics, is far more versatile and varied. I mean, they have skirts (and different kinds of skirts!), dresses (and different kinds of dresses!) and hats, shawls, scarfs, amazing hairstyles, and make-up, and the choice between Maybelline and Rimmel. To be honest, I am so jealous it's not true. Women's clothes are just so much more interesting. Not that I wear them unless its a fancy dress party, of course.

You might be forgiven at this point, to think that actually, I'm lying and that I do in fact, care about shoes.

You're WRONG!

Betsan Powys today wrote about Edwina Hart, a possible contender for the leadership of Welsh Labour. Only... she wrote about her shoes. Or to be fair to Betsan, wrote about someone else writing about shoes.

This has been said before, but it is really starting to annoy me that the media still continue with the same old tired reporting. Why do reporters take so much time talking about women's clothing in politics? Is it because the largely male correspondents are secretly suppressing homoerotic tendencies which have to express themselves somehow, in the adoration of female fashion? I didn't think so either. Or maybe it is darker than that. Maybe... just maybe, its because of a latent sexism amongst journalists?

You know, when I see Harriet Harman, Caroline Flint, Caroline Spelman, etc, my first thought is not "Oh... my... God... did you SEE those shoes?".

My first thought, is usually: "Oh... my... God... your policies are the most misguided, stupid approach to this issue I have ever seen." Or, "Holy crapsticks, are you actually thinking of launching a leadership bid, Edwina? You've utterly failed the NHS, and now you want to screw up the country as well?"

See how easy that is? I just talked a little bit about something women politicians have done and talk about. Only, there's something wrong with that sentence. Yes. I actually noted a difference between male and female. And in this instance, it is completely and utterly wrong to do so.

I can see two ways forward. One of them is far more entertaining, the other is what should actually happen. One. Maybe all the macho political correspondents can start describing male suits as well as women's shoes, resulting in the following coverage of Prime Minister's Questions:

Huw: "And now it's over to Nick Robinson. Nick, how did Gordon do at PMQs today?"

Nick: "Well, Huw, Gordon stood up at the offset, supremely confident in his well-tailored suit. Do note the use of darker thread for the seams, and the very faint pin-striping. Clearly, he has decided to go for a reserved elegance today, rather."

Huw: "And what about David Cameron?"

Nick: "Ah, Huw... this is where it gets really interesting. David Cameron has turned up in a bright yellow suit. It caused quite a stir, I must admit, a little like Kate Moss. It really screamed for attention, drew the eyes. An invention by a new, in-your-face designer from Putney, this yellow suit is a fabulous suede number, studded with beautifully shining diamonds. The motivation behind this yellow suit is clearly part of his lovebombing strategy to pull in Lib Dem voters. The diamonds are there to reassure the Tory right that he's still a rich tosser who doesn't really care about the poor. It seems to be working."

Huw: "And Nick Clegg?"

Nick: "Well, Nick Clegg has..."

It sounds strange, doesn't it? But although it has been exaggerated, maybe this is what Harriet Harman feels like, when people harp on about her clothing, her shoes or her appearance? You know, whatever your feelings about Harriet Harman, she has risen through a male-dominated world and socked it to them as an equal.

I think we owe women the respect to treat them like people, especially when they are part of the "class" that runs and governs our country.

So next time we read something about a woman's shoes and we realise it is talking about that woman's leadership bid for a political party... maybe we can reflect on the latent sexism which leads even intelligent female commentators like Betsan Powys, to fall into the same lazy, dismissive trap which does nothing to further the equality for women that this country still needs.