Jem Clarke is five foot because of a genetic condition. He’s spent 50 years putting up with rude comments, thanks to the last acceptable prejudice
In February, at Prime Minister’s Questions, Keir Starmer said to Rishi Sunak (five foot seven), ‘Is he starting to wonder if this job is just too big for him?’ If Starmer can make us titter at this line, then we’re still, as a nation, open to a good chuckle at the expense of the shorter man. Worse still, despite the fact that Rishi has seven inches on me, I was one of those titterers. Had I become heightist? I am five feet tall, thanks to a genetic disease, multiple epiphyseal dysplasia. It messes up the length of my bones and the ‘jauntiness’ of my joints. In America, it’s classified as a mild form of dwarfism. Dwarfism is really an umbrella term for any genetic condition that restricts growth. So across the pond, I’m a very tall, little person. Over here, I’m a very small, short person. I straddle two stools...
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