Green Party MP Hannah Spencer has broken her silence over claims she wore a £2,000 Gucci shirt during Prime Minister's Questions, hitting back at critics in a video shared on social media.
MP Refutes Designer Shirt Claims
The MP for Gorton and Denton became the subject of debate after commentators spotted what they believed was an expensive designer blouse while she made a jab at Reform UK during this week's PMQs. Social media users accused her of hypocrisy, with one saying, "Nothing says 'fight the wealthy elite' quite like delivering the lecture in Gucci blouse." Another claimed she was "looking rather splendid in her £2,000 Gucci blouse, paid for by hard-working taxpayers."
However, Ms Spencer rubbished these claims in an Instagram video posted on Friday afternoon. She revealed that the shirt was not Gucci but from a little-known brand called Costa Brava, and she had purchased it from Oxfam 15 years ago.
Charity Shop Find Transformed
"Something phenomenal happened this week when I wore this shirt at Prime Minister's questions," she said. "It underwent a remarkable transformation — it went from being a charity shop find to apparently being a £2,000 Gucci shirt. At least that's what the establishment is saying."
Adding humorously, she said, "Jesus is out there turning water into wine, but I'm out here turning charity shop finds into designer clobber."
Previous Controversy on Drinking in Westminster
Ms Spencer, elected in a February by-election, previously made headlines for sparking a conversation about drinking in Westminster. She admitted being "really shocked" to learn some MPs drank alcohol before voting. She told Politics Joe last month that "you can smell the alcohol when people are in between votes" and noted a room where people were "just sat having a drink."
The parliamentary estate has several bars accessible to workers, MPs, and their guests. Ms Spencer pressed Prime Minister Keir Starmer on whether MPs should drink on the job, given they vote on critical issues like the climate crisis, disabled people's rights, housing, and child poverty. The PM responded that there are different views on enjoying a drink but emphasized the need for an economy that works for everyone and strong public services.
