It appears outspoken minister Kim Howells has the same scathing attitude towards top of the range high-street business suits as he does for conceptual art.

The Diary has learnt the Labour minister for lifelong learning, further and higher education, who criticised a Turner Prize nominee in 2002 by using an expletive, also felt it was his place to snub a young Guardian reporter's dress sense.

Although the minister dubbed the suit interesting' his true opinion was revealed by his slightly turned up lip.

All The Diary can say is that brown two-piece of yours minister really does nothing for your complexion and don't even get us started on that stripy monstrosity draped around your neck.