Diana Johnson rebukes UKIP donor Demetri Marchessini: 'Women in trousers helped shape history'

Parliament should debate the historic achievements of women in trousers as a rebuke to UKIP donor Demetri Marchessini, Hull North MP Diana Johnson joked today. Labour MP Ms Johnson said it was important for the Commons to highlight the importance of trouser-clad women, including pioneering Hull pilot Amy Johnson. In widely reported comments this week, Mr Marchessini proposed to Channel 4 News that women should be banned from wearing trousers to ensure men still wanted to have sex with them - highlighting the plan as vital to the salvation of the western world. Speaking in the Commons today, Ms Johnson said: "For the benefit of the UKIP donor who this week said women should be banned from wearing trousers, can we please have a debate on the historic contribution women in trousers have played in this country? "Including Amy Johnson, from Hull, who wore trousers as an aviator, the women's Land Army in the second world war and Princess Elizabeth who wore trousers as a mechanic, serving in the Second World War." Commons Leader Andrew Lansley replied: "Well, good for you - I can't promise a debate but I entirely endorse your sentiments."

@FeministPics As I just mentioned in the Commons, Princess Elizabeth was a mechanic in WW2. #womenintrouserspic.twitter.com/rf1NTTjgix

— Diana Johnson (@DianaJohnsonMP) May 1, 2014

Mr Marchessini donated £5,000 to UKIP in December, months after the party sought to distance itself from his claims that women wearing trousers amounted to "hostile behaviour". He had given £10,000 in two instalments earlier in the year. UKIP leader Nigel Farage said he was "sure the money was taken in good faith" but that he did not deal with the party's finances. Asked whether UKIP should accept donations from someone with such views, he said: "Possibly not, no. But ask the treasurer, I don't run everything."

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