Rebecca Moore gives advice to UKIP's Louise

One thing stood out from Newsnight recently involving Piers Morgan, Joey “philosopher king” Barton and Louise Bours. No, it wasn’t Joey’s “four ugly girls” comment which immediately went viral (he stupidly compared UKIP to the “not worse” option out of some ugly girls he could hook up with on a night out).

What really stood out for me was Louise Bours’ shouty delivery of most everything she wanted to say. Upon digging a little deeper about the UKIP MEP, I find that she’s a former actress.

Her manner of delivery has been put down to voice projection coaching at drama school but last time I looked drama schools tried to promote subtle performances and a natural ability to seem human.

Back in her acting heyday she had parts in shows such as Band of Gold, a drama about prostitutes. One vague memory from that show is watching a prostitute strut around her living room in stilettos and rubber gloves for the pleasure of a client. So in her UKIP role she’s slightly less debased… though only just… and only because there are no fluorescent rubber gloves involved. Now, I’ve never been a professional actress, tis true. But I have acted on stage, done a bit of stand-up comedy and delivered various speeches. Never, in all my time of public speaking, have I ever needed to shout in order to be heard. In fact I believe that if you do find yourself beginning to shout, you’ve probably lost control of the whole situation anyway. It’s like shouting during a domestic – the person who can hold off really spitting out their dummy the longest is actually the winner.

Louise was loud, obnoxious, and unable and unused to taking criticism (which, let’s face it, she needs to get used to on the UKIP circus bandwagon).

I have in the past had the privilege of working with an inspiring team of women, who were civilised, quirky and professional. The leader of this group was softly spoken, yet able to be firm and to efficiently make her point. In meetings, colleagues would lean in to hear her thoughts, hanging on her every word because they respected her as a leader and as a person.

We knew that she didn’t feel the need to raise her voice, because she wasn’t constantly trying to prove herself – she certainly had the goods, and quietly assured us all of that.

Even in an emergency where there are injured victims you are taught to attend the quietest ones first – even if someone in the corner is screaming in agony. The quieter one is usually the one to take more seriously.

Louise Bours – and her party – would do well to remember that they who shout loudest are often trying to cover up the fact that at heart they can’t – and shouldn’t – be taken very seriously at all.