 Bessie was renowned for the sharpness of her tongue , either in pursuit of her campaigns or in denouncing her enemies . She frequently used inflammatory , colourful language , once describing an opposing councillor as a " blasted rat " , and another time telling the Tory majority that she was willing " to take a machine gun to the lot of you " . In contrast to this aggressive public , Bessie 's private life was unostentatious . She did not smoke or drink , dressed conventionally and holidayed modestly in Scarborough . Nevertheless , she enjoyed the company of many glamorous friends from the worlds of show business and boxing . 
