Oh dear. Owen Smith’s decision to go off piste in his leadership speech today has not worked out all that well. While discussing the need for a stronger opposition than the one currently provided under Jeremy Corbyn, Smith said Labour could not allow Theresa May to claim Labour’s centre ground.
Alas he used a rather unfortunate phrase to make his point. Discussing PMQs, he said that when May had lectured Labour on social injustice, he had wanted to ‘smash her back on her heels’:
‘It pained me that we didn’t have the strength and the power and the vitality to smash her back on her heels.’
Although Smith has previously spoken about the need to ‘smash’ austerity, Mr S advises Smith to stick to avoid using the term in relation to women and their heels in future.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in