Statement jewellery was all over the catwalks for this summer but not quite in the same form that rocked the Government this week.

While many designers showed big, chunky necklaces and stacked bangles on their runways, Hazel Blears' tiny brooch made a statement of a different kind on Wednesday.

It is not clear whether, when the former Cabinet minister's husband Michael Halsall bought his wife the £135 item, he knew it would be examined as a political statement, but not since Teresa May stepped across the Tory Party Conference stage in 2002 in leopard-skin mules there been such a furore about an MP's fashion choices.

For Nick Hubbard, the designer and maker of the infamous Rocking the Boat piece, it has provided the kind of free publicity that PR companies dream about. His work graced the pages of national newspapers, was analysed by political pundits and appeared as the top story of news and radio programmes.

The brooch shows a cat and dog sitting in a boat cast adrift, surrounded by the words "Rocking the Boat". When a tiny lever on the side of the brooch is operated, the boat rocks from side to side.

Mr Hubbard runs his business with his wife Jean from their studio, an old bakery overlooking the Staffordshire countryside. He makes every piece by hand, using traditional skills and locally sourced materials. The brooch was made using oxidized silver, fine gold detail and a hand-painted background.

He seemed unfazed at Ms Blears' use of his work: "We didn't know that she had the 'Rocking the Boat' brooch until we saw it on the news, although we have previously seen her wearing other pieces from our collection.

"It was quite a shock, a friend telephoned us to let us know that it was being featured on the news. It has been mindblowing and very exciting at the same time."

Mr Hubbard, who answered questions via email because, his representative said, he was a "bit shy", said he took very little interest in politics. But he said he thought that Ms Blears knew what she was doing when she wore the piece: "I think her intentions were clear and although provocative I would also like to think the playful nature of my design was appreciated."

Ms Blears is not the only well-known person to wear Mr Hubbard's designs. He says: "I have been designing and making contemporary jewellery for over 30 years and it has been worn by many well-known clients such as Jill Murphy, Virginia McKenna, Frances De La Tour, Roddy Doyle, Sue Townsend, Alison Weir and Nicholas Hytner. My jewellery has also been presented to Prince William, Marti Pellow and David Dickinson."

Despite the success of the brooch, Mr Hubbard says he has no plans to create more political statement jewellery: "It is an unlikely new venture but I am always open to commissions, whoever they are from."

www.nickhubbardjewellery.co.uk

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