Hypocrisy of Tory who attacked PM over those trousers
Anti-Brexit ex-minister who attacked the PM for wearing £995 leather trousers has a Mulberry bag just as expensive
NICKY MORGAN was under attack last night for criticising Theresa May over her expensive taste in trousers – despite having a £950 handbag herself.
The MP – nicknamed Ms U-turn for her frequent changes of policy when she was Education Secretary – has been pictured on numerous occasions carrying the luxury oxblood brown leather Bayswater bag from upmarket brand Mulberry.
Last week she laid into the Prime Minister after Mrs May wore designer leather trousers worth £995 for a magazine photo-shoot, suggesting it would not go down well with her constituents ‘in Loughborough market’.
The row led to Mrs Morgan being banned from a No10 meeting after a spat erupted with one of Mrs May’s most senior aides.
Yesterday Mrs Morgan – who was sacked by Mrs May in July and is now leading a Tory backbench rebellion to her plans to push through Brexit – was accused of disloyalty by activists in her own constituency.
The deputy chairman of Loughborough Conservatives said she should stop taking ‘side-swipes’ against the Government and start to defend the party she was elected to represent. But Mrs Morgan vowed to continue being a ‘thorn in the side’ of the Prime Minister.
A source close to Mrs Morgan last night claimed the bag was about 12 years old and had been a gift.
Mulberry Bayswater handbags, with their iconic golden lock and brushed leather interior, are highly prized but do not come cheap.
The high-quality product is popular because it is functional and roomy, with a classic shape and colour. It is very heavy and features small metal feet on the bottom.
Last night pro-Brexit Tory MP Nadine Dorries said: ‘It is clear that Nicky Morgan was looking for a reason to attack the Prime Minister rather than making a genuine criticism. I think it shows Nicky Morgan’s comments were sexist, because she never criticised David Cameron’s extremely expensive suits.
‘Sadly, the ragged band of nutcase Europhiles will find any excuse to take a pot shot at the Prime Minister. They do not believe the result of the referendum should be honoured. They are working to find any means possible to undermine the position of the PM and her Brexit ministers.’
The row broke out last week after the Prime Minister was pictured wearing the Amanda Wakeleydesigned ‘bitter chocolate’ trousers, which come with a £955 price tag.
Mrs Morgan expressed doubts about the choice, saying: ‘My barometer is always, “How am I going to explain this in Loughborough market?” ’ The MP said the trousers had been ‘noticed and discussed’ in Tory circles and sent the wrong message.
She added: ‘I don’t have leather trousers. I don’t think I’ve ever spent that much on anything apart from my wedding dress.’ Mrs May denied she was out of touch for wearing the trousers. Her joint chief of staff, Fiona Hill, was furious, according to text messages seen by the Mail on Sunday. Mrs Hill had previously met Mrs Morgan and fellow Tory Alistair Burt and invited them to a meeting with Mrs May about their views on Brexit this week.
But Mrs Hill texted Mr Burt to tell him: ‘Don’t bring that woman to No 10 again’ after she spoke out about the Premier’s trousers. Mrs Morgan, however, found out about the message and sent the aide a stinging riposte. The message said: ‘If you don’t like something I have said or done, please tell me directly. No man brings me to any meeting. Your team invites me. If you don’t want my views in future meetings you need to tell them.’
Mrs Hill, believed to be referring to the pair attending the previous meeting together, replied: ‘Well, he just did. So there!’
Adam Stares, deputy chairman of Mrs Morgan’s Loughborough constituency association, told BBC1’s Sunday Politics he had ‘no idea what she is playing at’. He said: ‘There’s a lot of people who think she is taking side-swipes at the Government and at Theresa May. I think she just needs to get on with her job as an MP which she does very well, and support the Government.’
Mrs Morgan told the same programme: ‘Nobody comes into politics to be a thorn in their party leader’s side. But, at the end of the day, it is such a massive issue that if you don’t stand up for what you believe in I’m not sure what the point is of going into politics.’
‘She needs to get on with her job’