Leader of the House of Lords Baroness Tina Stowell has just become one of our favourite people, after comparing herself to Beyoncé and proving a MASSIVE point.
David Cameron recently decided to essentially demote Stowell, slashing her pay by over £22k compared to her male predecessor and downgrading the role by refusing her the higher rank of a full cabinet member.
As Labour peer Oona King reportedly told The Mirror: "If a female Leader of the Lords is paid less than her male counterpart what hope is there for those out in the real world - be they a hairdresser, stockbroker or dinner lady?"
But during a debate about Cameron's decision, she said: "I'm an independent woman and a single lady. My noble Lords might want to think of me as the Beyoncé of your Lordships' House."
The reference (surprisingly) seemed to work, as the motion, calling for Cameron to reconsider, voted 177 to 29 in her favour. But Stowell remained calm and collected saying she would do her job the to the best of her ability regardless.
"I am Leader of this House. While my Lords may be concerned about my ministerial rank, nothing changes that simple fact. Nothing has changed in practice...I will do the job of Leader in exactly the same way as all my predecessors."
See, we told you she was pretty amazing. But if that didn't convince you, Benjamin Cohen (founding publisher of PinkNews), says she was pivotal in encouraging Conservatives to vote in favour of gay marriage.
In her speech during the same-sex marriage debate, she said: "Perhaps I should declare from the outset that I am not married, and as long as George Clooney is still available I am prepared to wait."
"But even though I am single—and I of all people understand that not everyone wants to get married—I believe in the institution of marriage."
She even went on to joke that she had imagined having an affair with George (who hasn't), adding: "Who would blame him?"
Claire Hodgson is Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan UK. Formerly the brand's Digital Director, she has worked in the media industry for over fifteen years, specialising in cross-platform content, from print and digital, to social and video. Originally working as an entertainment journalist, Claire is a film fanatic, box-set binger and music-lover, having interviewed the likes of Channing Tatum and Zac Efron, with her Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo video going viral in 2015. You're most likely to find Claire writing random entertainment op-eds on her love for Pedro Pascal and F1: Drive to Survive, or lusting after dreamy holiday destinations in our travel section.
