Angela Rayner Takes on Worcestershire’s Hardest Challenge: Saying Worcestershire

Worcestershire has claimed another victim. Angela Rayner found herself facing one of the toughest challenges in British politics this week.

Not local government reform.

Not the opposition benches.

Not even a particularly difficult question.

She had to say Worcestershire.

While speaking in the House of Commons about local government reorganisation, Rayner began listing areas affected by the plans before arriving at our beautiful county and discovering the linguistic equivalent of a pothole on the A38.

Worcestershire.

You could almost hear the county collectively whispering:

“Go on… say it.”

It didn’t go entirely to plan.

Naturally, Worcestershire MPs were absolutely delighted.

Droitwich and Evesham MP Nigel Huddleston couldn’t resist pointing out that there is a video doing the rounds claiming the three hardest things to say in life are:

“I’m sorry.”

“I love you.”

And “Worcestershire.”

He then suggested Rayner appeared to struggle with at least two of them.

Absolutely brutal.

To her credit, Rayner did eventually manage Worcestershire and apologised for the stumble.

For anyone elsewhere in the country struggling, we’d like to provide this handy Kempsey.co.uk guide:

Worcester: Not War-Chester.

Worcestershire: Definitely not Wor-Cester-Shire.

Kempsey: You’re probably safe with this one.

Powick: Careful.

Leigh Sinton: We’re watching you.

Peopleton: It’s a place, not the population of a small village.

Upton Snodsbury: Good luck.

And once you’ve mastered those, we’ll move you onto the Worcestershire final boss:

Wyre Piddle.

There will be a written exam.

Visitors are reminded that Worcestershire pronunciation rules are actually very simple: ignore approximately half the letters, confidently say something vaguely resembling “Wustershire”, and under absolutely no circumstances stop halfway through to reconsider your life choices.

Welcome to Worcestershire, Angela.

You’ll get there.