Maverick Scottish MP Dougal Connelly yesterday revealed in a dinner speech that he asks female constituents to remove their tops when talking to him.  "Seeing women wearing blouses or even thick jumpers makes it very difficult for me to communicate with them." he said in a speech at the annual Scottish Working Man's Club Beer and Tatties Evening.

"I understand that culturally women may prefer to hide their boobs, but this is, after all, a man's world, and women should be sensitive to the traditions expected by men.  And if they have nothing to hide, what possible objection could they have?"

He rejected allegations that he was a sexist.  "People always cry 'sexist' as a way of refusing to discuss what is an important issue in social relationships.  In this Patriarchal society women's refusal to go bare-chested throws up a barrier between them and, say, builders or road-workers.  I would have no objection if a woman requested me to remove my kilt.  In fact, I would encourage it."