Not OK: The big pink bus that's been sent to 'talk to female voters in the kitchen'.

Someone did not think this one through…

Picture this: You are a major political party on the cusp of an election, and you are desperate to woo female voters.

Do you:

a) Respectfully reach out to and engage with the female population, treating them like intelligent, mature adults with valued thoughts and opinions,

or

b) Buy a hot pink van and drive it around the country claiming you are ‘reaching out to women’, because nothing attracts the laydeez more than pretty colours, right?

It seems too ridiculous to be true, but Britain’s Labour Party actually chose option b.

Related: Not OK: Bravo, TV company. You’ve managed to take advertising back to a more offensive time.

That’s right – a real political party thought it would be a good idea to paint a bus bright pink, drive around the country and talk to female voters about politics “around the kitchen table”.

I’m guessing they are regretting the whole idea right about now, especially since it has been dubbed the “Barbie bus” and become a national (and international) laughing stock.

Related: This bar thinks the criminal act of drugging a woman is comedy gold.

But has the party admitted it made a mistake and apologised? Hell no. Instead, they are (mis)handling the controversy by publicly insisting the van isn’t pink at all, but cerise or magenta. Oh dear.

Comedian John Oliver has mocked the sexist and patronising concept on the latest edition of Last Week Tonight, using his trademark wit and sarcasm.

Wow. It is a little insulting that you would try to appeal to adult women voters the same way that Mattel attempts to appeal to eight-year-olds. And at least Barbie’s pink bus had the good sense to unfold into a sweet hot tub and party den combo…The only way it could be more patronising is if its wheels were giant NuvaRings and they refused to let women drive it.

It’s the funniest thing you’ll see, well, probably until the next edition of Last Week Tonight.

But all jokes aside – we’re not angry at you, Labour. Just very, very disappointed.

What do you think of the Labour Party’s stunt? Sexist and offensive, or harmless?

Speaking of sexism, here are some recent ads we’re not OK with…