Protest not without 'fragrance'

A WOMAN MP responded in the Commons last night to comments made by Sir Nicholas Fairburn, Tory MP for Perth and Kinross, by saying that he was 'not my idea of a desert island dream boy'.

Angela Eagle, Labour MP for Wallasey, made the protest to the Speaker, Betty Boothroyd, in a point of order. Sir Nicholas caused uproar last week by claiming in a Spectator article that women MPs 'lack fragrance on the whole, they're definitely not desert island material', although he excluded Miss Boothroyd.

Last night Miss Eagle asked the Speaker: 'Is it in order that someone who seems to reside in a permanent state of sartorial inelegance, and in fact is not my idea of a desert island dream boy, should be making such comments?'

Miss Boothroyd said: 'If you wish to take it further, perhaps you would write to me about it.'

Sir Nicholas was not present.