This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/19/jeremy-corbyn-accused-of-calling-theresa-may-a-stupid-woman

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Jeremy Corbyn to MPs: I did not call Theresa May a 'stupid woman' Jeremy Corbyn to MPs: I did not call Theresa May a 'stupid woman'
(35 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn has insisted he did not refer to Theresa May as a “stupid woman” after multiple accusations from MPs that he muttered the insult during prime minister’s questions. Parliament descended into chaos on Wednesday as angry Tory MPs accused Jeremy Corbyn of calling Theresa May a “stupid woman”, which the Labour leader vehemently denied.
The Labour leader told parliament he abhorred misogynist language and had in fact been describing Conservative MPs as “stupid people”. The Speaker, John Bercow, struggled to maintain order in the aftermath of prime minister’s questions when Corbyn appeared to mutter the phrase to himself. He later said the phrase was “stupid people”.
The video of the remark, made after May’s final exchange with the Labour leader, spread like wildfire among Tory MPs even as May continued to answer questions in the House of Commons.
As the Tories grew more incensed, several MPs, including the Commons leader, Andrea Leadsom, accused Bercow himself of using the same term, prompting an angry backlash from the Speaker.
The video of the exchange, which Bercow said he had not seen, prompted frenzied speculation on social media, including analysis from unexpected quarters.
PMQs verdict: May puts spotlight on Corbyn with panto perorationPMQs verdict: May puts spotlight on Corbyn with panto peroration
To the derision of some Conservatives, Corbyn said he had referred “to those who I believe were trying to turn a debate about a national crisis in this country into pantomime as ‘stupid people’” and said he did not use the words “stupid woman” about the prime minister. The deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie was asked by BBC Radio 5 Live to examine the footage and suggested she believed Corbyn had said “stupid woman”. The West Wing actor Rob Lowe, who is deaf in one ear, also tweeted that he believed Corbyn had said “woman”.
“I am completely opposed to the use of sexist or misogynist language in any form at all,” he added. “I am happy to place that on the record.” In an attempt to restore order as dozens of MPs called points of order after PMQs finished, Bercow said he would review the footage.
After being asked to come to a view on whether Corbyn should apologise, the Speaker, John Bercow, said that although it was easy to see why people believed Corbyn had used the phrase, he could not be certain and that the Labour leader should be taken at his word. Corbyn later returned to the Commons and insisted he had said “stupid people” after May likened Labour’s unwillingness to call a no-confidence vote to a pantomime, saying: “He’s going to put a confidence vote – oh yes he is, oh no he isn’t.”
The apparent insult caused uproar in the House of Commons chamber within minutes. A number of Conservative MPs, including the Commons leader, Andrea Leadsom, the Conservative vice-chairman, Paul Scully, and the former Tory chair Patrick McLoughlin raised the matter directly, with May still present in the House of Commons, with McLoughlin asking the Speaker to censure Corbyn. He said the comment was in response to “those who I believe were trying to turn a debate about a national crisis in this country into pantomime”.
During PMQs, McLoughlin said he had seen Corbyn utter the words while he was sat on the opposite bench. In a statement before Corbyn’s return, Bercow said it was easy to see why people believed Corbyn had used the phrase, but he could not be certain and the Labour leader should be taken at his word.
The issue brought together MPs from across the Conservative party, including critics of May, such as the remainer Anna Soubry, and the staunch Brexiter Mark Francois, who submitted a no-confidence letter last week.
The Conservative vice-chairman Paul Scully raised the matter directly with May during the latter half of PMQs. “This year, when we’ve been celebrating 100 years of women getting the vote, do you think it’s appropriate language to call people a ‘stupid woman’ in this chamber?” he asked.
May initially looked confused but then said all MPs “should be aiming to encourage women to come into this chamber, and to stand in this chamber and should therefore use appropriate language in this chamber when they are referring to female members”.
While May was still in the house, the former Tory chair Patrick McLoughlin asked Bercow to censure Corbyn.
“He muttered words which were quite clearly visible, accusing the prime minister of being a ‘stupid woman’,” he said, as MPs shouted “Shame!” and “Disgrace!”“He muttered words which were quite clearly visible, accusing the prime minister of being a ‘stupid woman’,” he said, as MPs shouted “Shame!” and “Disgrace!”
The Speaker said he had not witnessed the alleged comments but said if an insult had been made, then “a member has a responsibility to apologise,” he said. Bercow insisted he had not witnessed the alleged comment, provoking fury from some MPs, several of whom accused the Speaker himself of using intemperate language.
After the end of prime minister’s questions, the chamber became increasingly chaotic as many on the Tory benches tried to raise points of order to criticise Corbyn. Leadsom said the Speaker had not apologised for previously calling her a “stupid woman”. Bercow was reported to the standards watchdog over the alleged comments made in May.
Leadsom also criticised the Speaker, saying he had not apologised for previously calling her a “stupid woman” himself. Bercow was reported to the standards watchdog over the alleged comments made in May. “Why it is that when an opposition party member found that you had called me a stupid woman you did not apologise in this chamber?” she said.
“I would just like to ask, after your finding there that individuals who are found to have made unwelcome remarks should apologise, why it is that when an opposition party member found that you had called me a stupid woman you did not apologise in this chamber?” To loud shouts of, “Apologise!” from Tory MPs, Bercow said: “I dealt with that matter months ago in remarks that I made to the House of Commons … which requires from the chair today no elaboration whatsoever.”
To loud shouts of “Apologise!” from Tory MPs, Bercow said: “I dealt with that matter months ago in remarks that I made to the House of Commons, to which the right honourable lady, in our various meetings, has made no reference and which requires from the chair today no elaboration whatsoever.” Bercow said later he had looked at the footage and consulted professional lip-speakers. “It is easy to see why it could be construed as ‘stupid woman’,” he said, adding that that was also the advice of the professionals.
In the furore, Tory MPs from both the leave and remain camps united to criticise the Labour leader. “Nobody can be 100% certain. That includes professional lip-readers. I will naturally take, and would be expected to take, the word of any member. It is reasonable to expect the house to do the same.”
The backbencher Anna Soubry, a prominent remainer, suggested Bercow was giving preferential treatment to Corbyn. She was followed shortly by Mark Francois, a hard Brexiter and one of the key organisers of the recent Conservative no-confidence vote in May, who said: “I think you will find the video evidence is overwhelming … we cannot have misogynistic statements.” Leadsom said the “country and this house will form their own conclusions” and that she “deeply regrets” Corbyn’s lack of apology.
Earlier in the chamber, Scully had raised the insult with the prime minister. “This year, when we’ve been celebrating 100 years of women getting the vote, do you think it’s appropriate language to call people a ‘stupid woman’ in this chamber?” he asked. In one point of order, the Conservative MP Rachel Maclean said: “Read my lips: I do not believe him”, for which she was rebuked by Bercow.
May initially looked confused but then said: “Can I say to my honourable friend that I think that everybody in this house, particularly in this 100th year of women getting the vote, should be aiming to encourage women to come into this chamber, and to stand in this chamber and should therefore use appropriate language in this chamber when they are referring to female members.”
The apparent insult came in response to May’s putdown after her final question from Corbyn. “I know it’s the Christmas season and the pantomime season. He’s going to put a confidence vote – oh yes he is, oh no he isn’t,” she said. “I’ve got some advice. Look behind you! They are not impressed and neither is the country.”
Bercow said later he had looked at the television footage and consulted with professional lip-speakers. “It is easy to see why it may be construed as ‘stupid woman’,” he said, saying that was also the advice of the professionals.
“I neither saw the incident nor heard anything … I am not a lip-reader. Nobody can be 100% certain. That includes professional lip readers. I will naturally take and would be expected to take the word of any member. It is reasonable to expect the house to do the same.”
Leadsom said the “country and this house will form their own conclusions” and said that she “deeply regrets that the right honourable gentleman has not seen fit to apologise”.
Other Tory MPs expressed similar anger after Corbyn denied he had used the phrase. In a point of order, MP Rachel Maclean said “Read my lips. I do not believe him” for which she was rebuked by Bercow.
“It is well established that a member is to be taken at his or her word,” Bercow said.“It is well established that a member is to be taken at his or her word,” Bercow said.
Labour MPs came back to the House to defend Corbyn and decry the state of the debate. Laura Pidcock, who recently returned from maternity leave, said: “I would like to say it was nice to be back. I just wonder what members of the public will draw from the chamber being used in this way?
“I have heard from my constituency office today that residents have had to have parcels delivered today because they cannot afford to buy presents or food, and the chamber being used in this way is absolutely pathetic.”
Jeremy CorbynJeremy Corbyn
Theresa MayTheresa May
LabourLabour
ConservativesConservatives
PMQsPMQs
House of CommonsHouse of Commons
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content