Now Parliament really has gone potty... Commons shop sells ‘I passed a motion’ babygrows
MPs are kicking up a stink about the House of Commons selling babywear that makes a ‘tasteless’ reference to potty time.
Babygrows and bibs are on sale in Commons’ souvenir shops bearing the slogan ‘I passed a motion’, a lavatory humour pun on MPs doing their duty in the debating chamber. The babygrow features the Commons’ famous Portcullis logo.
Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke branded the items ‘tasteless tat’ and took a potshot at Commons Speaker John Bercow, who has instigated a number of ‘child-friendly’ initiatives at Westminster including a creche. ‘At this rate, we’ll be selling Commons-branded nappies before long,’ said Mr Shelbrooke.
‘There’s a fine line between selling tasteful Commonsbranded pens and bookmarks, and hawking grubby souvenirs.
‘Parliament should project itself as being about serious debates and law-making. It’s demeaning.’
Retailing at £10.95, the babygrows are bestsellers at Commons’ shops. Another babygrow bears the slogan: ‘MP for Dribbletown.’
A Commons spokesman said the slogans were ‘a light-hearted nod to the many important democratic functions carried out by the House’.
Mr Bercow’s office insisted the babywear selection was nothing to do with him.
COULD the House of Commons souvenir shop get away with selling sticks of parliamentary rock, clockwork dentures that squawk ‘Mr Speaker!’ or Jeremy Corbyn false beards? No. There is a limit to such things, and baby clothes bearing the words ‘I passed a motion’ are well beyond that limit, even in the cradle of democracy.