TV presenter Carol Vorderman has been slammed by a Tory MP for commenting that a Government minister did not having a degree. Conservative MP Siobhan Baillie spoke in the Commons to condemn Vorderman's online remarks, accusing her of engaging in "snobbery" and seeking social media attention .
She spoke out after an exchange on Twitter last week which involved Vorderman, Cabinet Office minister Johnny Mercer, and his wife Felicity Cornelius-Mercer. On July 8, Vorderman tweeted in reference to the couple: "Not a degree in sight in spite of expensive private education! So who'd employ them?". This was accompanied by a shrugging emoji.
Mercer had previously referred to Vorderman as a "deeply unpleasant person" on the same platform, while Vorderman has also in the past made critical remarks about Mercer's performance as a minister.
During an adjournment debate in the House of Commons, Siobhan Baillie, the Conservative MP for Stroud, spoke out against the snobbery surrounding further education and the lack of a degree.
She told MPs: “Snobbery about further education and no degree sadly continues to this day. You just have to look at Carol Vorderman’s attack on (Tory minister Johnny Mercer) and his wife.”
After referencing Ms Vorderman’s tweet about Mr Mercer’s education, she said: “This is the latest example of nonsense. Dismissing a minister who works tirelessly for the armed forces and veterans for not having gone to university is bad enough, but deliberately being condescending about the lives of millions of people who did not go to university is absolutely unforgivable.
“I used to admire Carol Vorderman an awful lot before she decided to eat so much political hate for breakfast to get social media hits. Now, sadly, I just feel sorry for her.”
The MP's comments came in the context of a debate on improving access to on-the-job training.
The criticism of Vorderman's remarks continued on social media, with Tory assistant whip Jacob Young calling her a "horrible little snob." In response, Vorderman tweeted that it was a joke to label her an education snob.
She said: “They can’t think of anything else to have a go at…. HOWEVER, I’ll let my record in education do the talking (including) helping 500,000 children with their maths during lockdown…giving bursaries for young people and schools with disadvantaged backgrounds like mine….helping Blunkett introduce the Numeracy Hour….governor of inner city school……education books for decades…..recognised STEM Ambassador….I could go on.
“Always a believer in encouraging young people to achieve their best, in whichever way that comes around, to be strong and happy and confident. Anything else being espoused is offensive, targeted, predictable Right Wing nonsense. PS Tories….this attack won’t work. It just makes us more determined.”
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