Politician Calls Out Journalist Who Asked About Her Weight

Labour leadership candidate Liz Kendall is fed up with the way some journalists treat female politicians.

In a story for The Mail on Sunday, political editor Simon Walters referred to Kendall’s "lithe figure," which she maintains by "jogging 20 miles a week." Walters also compared her fashion sense to that of the Duchess of Cambridge and went as far as asking Kendall about her weight. Kendall wouldn’t stand for it. The story reads:

Her jacket, navy blue "vest" and trousers are from Reiss. L.K. Bennett and Reiss are two of the Duchess of Cambridge’s favourite fashion brands -- and slinky brunette Liz, or Elizabeth Louise, to give her full Royal-sounding Christian names, looks as good in them as slinky brunette Kate. In fact she looks the same weight as the Duchess -- about 8st -- though when I ask she slaps me down with a raucous "f*** off!", adding quickly: "Don’t print that."

Also included were details about Kendall’s "emerald green suede high heels" and questions about her relationship status, specifically whether she wants to get married and have kids. When she appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Pienaar’s Politics, Kendall responded to the question about her weight and the coverage of female politicians.

"I mean I just think it’s unbelievable that in the 21st century, women still get asked such very very different questions from men," she said. "Can you imagine The Mail on Sunday asking the weight of the prime minister, George Osborne or any other leading politician?"

She also added that she looks forward to the day when men and women are asked the same questions.

"I cannot wait for a world when women are judged the same as men and not by those kinds of questions."

H/T Jezebel

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