Baroness sparks fury by carrying Dolce and Gabbana gray squirrel costume to convention about defending endangered crimson species
A Baroness has sparked fury after wearing a Dolce and Gabbana dress decorated with grey squirrels to a conference about protecting endangered reds.
Baroness Sue Haymon, of Ullock, claimed she ‘didn’t realise what she was doing’ after turning up to the event last summer in the designer garment.
Grey squirrels, introduced to Britain from North America, have been blamed for the demise of red squirrels – devastating their natural environment, infecting them with fatal diseases and stripping bark from trees.
The UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA), funded by taxpayers, says it aims to protect the red species by reducing the negative impact of their grey counterparts.
Ian Glendinning, a retired police officer and chairman of charity Upper Coquetdale Red Squirrels (UCRS), described Baroness Haymon’s choice of fashion as ‘completely bizarre’.
He said: ‘It’s a completely bizarre thing to do.
‘The event was a conference about red squirrel conservation and she turned up wearing a lovely dress decorated with grey squirrels. Incredible.
‘You have to admit, it’s a rather amusing faux pas, a definite fashion malfunction.
Baroness Sue Haymon (pictured), of Ullock, claimed she ‘didn’t realise what she was doing’ after turning up to the event last summer in the designer garment
‘The event was a conference about red squirrel conservation and she turned up wearing a lovely dress decorated with grey squirrels. Incredible,’ Mr Glendinning said. The ‘lovely dress’ is pictured
The dress no longer appears available to buy new, but second hand pieces are selling online for as much €717 or £620
‘It’s small charitable organisations like UCRS which do the real and valuable work of conserving red squirrels, by culling the greys.
‘We get no funding at all, but are making a difference on the ground while organisations such as the UK Squirrel Accord which benefit from millions of pounds of grants do absolutely nothing.’
The dress no longer appears available to buy new, but second hand pieces are selling online for as much €717 or £620. One frock is currently on sale with a 32 per cent discount, and would have cost £955 full price.
Mr Glendinning came across a picture of the Baroness, also Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Defra, who delivered a speech at the conference, wearing the posh garment while looking at pictures of the event online.
The 68-year-old said he was stunned when he saw the image of the former MP for Workington sporting the summer dress emblazoned with grey squirrels, owls and pink flowers.
He added: ‘The UK Squirrel Accord had asked me to provide a laminated academic poster for the event, but told me I would have to pay for it myself, so I declined.
‘I was looking at the pictures because I was interested to see posters from other organisations, when I came across the image of the woman wearing the dress, and just couldn’t believe it.
‘I didn’t know who she was at first, and was completely shocked when I found out.
The UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA), funded by taxpayers, says it aims to protect the red species (pictured) by reducing the negative impact of their grey counterparts
Greys (pictured) are carriers of a lethal squirrel pox virus, which is deadly to the red squirrel and has decimated its population
‘I spoke to some people who had attended, and they told me she didn’t realise what she was doing, and she didn’t understand the problem.
‘I have no idea if she wore it out of ignorance of the problems greys cause, or if it was a conscious decision as Defra is against the killing of any wild animal.
‘However, there is no other method of control available and by refusing to cull the greys, they are condemning the reds to extinction.’
Mr Glendinning shared the image on Facebook and wasn’t the only one shocked by the baroness’ choice of clothing.
Karen Thirlway said: ‘What an idiot.’
Lesley Wolf added: ‘Now if they were dead squirrels, that would be different, but really sounds like someone needs to be educated.’
Mike Frear wrote: ‘Someone didn’t get the memo.’
Neil Baker said: ‘It just goes to show how much the government really know. Nothing much!’
Ian Glendinning (pictured) says the UCRS is increasing the red squirrel population, which shot up from around 10 to 80 in the space of five years on one 300 acre area of mixed woodland
Marie Jewitt added: ‘The dress is by Dolce & Gabbana so probably cost an absolute fortune too!’
Greys are carriers of a lethal squirrel pox virus, which is deadly to the red squirrel and has decimated its population. There are currently around 140,000 reds in the UK, compared to a whopping 2.5million greys.
Mr Glendinning says the UCRS is increasing the red squirrel population, which shot up from around 10 to 80 in the space of five years on one 300 acre area of mixed woodland.
He claims the only way to protect the reds is to humanely cull the greys.
The conference was held between June 25 and 26, last year in London, and was sponsored by the Red Squirrel Survival Trust and the University of Greenwich.
The UKSA is funded by the Forestry Commission, which is supported by Defra, and also receives grants from the National Lottery and other organisations.
A spokesman for the UKSA said: ‘The UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA) is a UK-wide partnership helping to tackle red squirrel conservation and tree bark stripping issues, and reduce the negative impacts of grey squirrels.
‘Along with our supporters, UKSA funds research into a grey squirrel fertility control that will actively support conservation and management activities, and have two project officers working on the ground to establish new squirrel groups in areas not already covered.’
Baroness Sue Haymon has been contacted for comment.
