Tough crowds

THE website Mumsnet is a traditionally tough gig for politicians with its members more than happy to go for the jugular.

And so it proved for Labour leadership hopeful Owen Smith last week during an online ‘question and answer’ session.

After telling everyone how happy he was to be there, he was first asked, ‘why are you a misogynist?’.

Speaking of tough crowds, later in the week Smith had a robust hustings with rival Jeremy Corbyn in Glasgow. The Corbyn supporters were the loudest but their jeers turned to tears of laughter when Smith moved away from the lectern and towards the crowd to make a point in that oh-so-slick way modern politicians do.

The only problem for the Welsh MP was the stage lights stayed fixed on the lectern, leaving Smith to make his point in the shadows.