Things became heated in the commons today after Barry Sheerman told Esther McVey to stop being a ‘hard-hearted Hannah’ during a Department for Work and Pensions questions. The incident occurred after Sheerman voiced his concerns over the department’s handling of the government’s welfare reforms.
McVey has taken none too kindly to the term, which is a reference to an Ella Fitzgerald song. The Conservative MP says that it is ‘not the first time that the opposition benches have been like this to me’.
Sheerman meanwhile insists his innocence, claiming it was not a sexist comment. ‘She has a reputation for being a very hard champion of the welfare reforms this Government has introduced and I believe it was fair comment and unfair to call me a sexist,’ the Huddersfield MP says.
Very disappointed by @EstherMcVeyMP response to me asking her to stop being the “hard hearted Hannah” of the DWP – surely not sexist term!
— Barry Sheerman MP (@BarrySheerman) March 9, 2015
As Mr S thought it best to let readers decide for themselves whether it was a sexist comment, he has included the lyrics of the song below.
In old Savannah, I said Savannah
The weather there is nice and warm
The climate’s of the southern brand
But here’s what I don’t understandThey’ve got a gal there, a pretty gal there
Who’s colder than an arctic storm
Got a heart just like a stone
Even nice men leave her aloneThey call her, “Hard hearted Hannah”
The vamp of Savannah
The meanest gal in town
Leather is tough but Hannah’s heart is tougher
She’s a gal who loves to see men sufferTo tease them and thrill ’em
To torture and kill ’em
Is her delight they sayI saw her at the seashore with a great big pan
There was Hannah pourin’ water on a drownin’ manShe’s hard hearted Hannah
The vamp of Savannah, G AThe call her, “Hard hearted Hannah”
The vamp of Savannah
The meanest gal in town
Talk of your cold refrigerating mamas
Brother she’s a polar bears pajamasTo tease them and thrill ’em
To torture and kill ’em
Is her delight they sayAn evening spent with Hannah sitting on your knees
Is like travelin’ through Alaska in your BVDsShe’s hard hearted Hannah
The vamp of Savannah, G ACan you imagine a woman as cold as Hannah?
She’s got the right name, “The vamp of Savannah”
Anytime a woman can take a great big pan
Start pourin’ water on a drownin’ manShe’s hard hearted Hannah
The vamp of Savannah, G-AOoh, she’s sweet as sour milk
So, is Esther the ‘meanest gal in town’ or is she right to be peeved?
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