What does frit mean in politics?
IT’S a word that most people have never heard of – yet Boris Johnson branded Jeremy Corbyn a ‘frit’ on Wednesday. But what does the term frit actually mean? Here’s the origin of the slur. What does frit mean? Frit is a colloquial shortening of the word ‘frightened’ and was used by Margaret Thatcher when […]
IT’S a word that most people have never heard of – yet Boris Johnson branded Jeremy Corbyn a ‘frit’ on Wednesday.
But what does the term frit actually mean? Here’s the origin of the slur.
What does frit mean?
Frit is a colloquial shortening of the word ‘frightened’ and was used by Margaret Thatcher when she was prime minister.
She accused labour politician Denis Headley of being ‘frit’ in a debate in the 1980s.
Who has used it in Parliament?
Following Maggie’s suit, Ed Miliband called David Cameron a frit in a 2015 discussion over a TV debate.
He said: “I think you doth protest too much. You have run out of excuses, you’re running scared of these debates and in the words of your heroine Lady Thatcher, you’re frit.”
Labour MP Dennis Skinner branded Theresa May a frit last year, saying: “Mrs Thatcher had a word for it. What she’s done today? F-R-I-T. She’s frit!”
Where did it come from?
There is debate of the exact origin of the word, some have claimed that it comes from Lincolnshire and that Maggie was demonstrating her Grantham roots.
However, Mr Johnson has accused the Labour leader of being ‘Frit’ saying: “Can he confirm now that he will allow the people of this country to decide on what he is giving up in their name with a general election on October 15 – or is he frit?
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.