Boris Johnson has said "there can be absolutely no place" for sexism in Westminster, following an outcry over claims Angela Rayner crossed and uncrossed her legs in the Commons to distract him.
In a widely condemned story in the Mail on Sunday, an anonymous Tory MP is said to have claimed Ms Rayner “knows she can’t compete with Boris’ Oxford Union debating training, but she has other skills which he lacks”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called on the Prime Minister to send a "clear message" that such comments are not acceptable.
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He said: "There is no place for sexism and misogyny or looking down on people because of where they come from in his party, in this House, or in modern Britain.”
Mr Johnson replied that he had “exchanged messages” with Ms Rayner at the weekend, adding: "I repeat what I said to her, there can be absolutely no place for such behaviour or such expression in this House and we should treat each other frankly, with the respect that each other deserves.”
The Mail stood by its story on Wednesday, claiming Ms Rayner had "laughed and joked" about such comments in the past.
The Ashton-under-Lyne MP said: "As women we sometimes try to brush aside the sexism we face, but that doesn’t make it ok.
“The Mail implies today that I somehow enjoy being subjected to sexist slurs. I don’t. They are mortifying and deeply hurtful.
“She loves it really’ is a typical excuse so many women are familiar with. But it can’t be women’s responsibility to call it out every time. I don’t need anyone to explain sexism to me – I experience it every day."
The row came as Mr Johnson was branded an “ostrich” with his head in the sand over the cost-of-living crisis by Sir Keir.
The Labour leader told the Commons: “He’s an ostrich, perfectly happy keeping his head in the sand. Working people are worried about paying their bills, they’re spending less and cutting back – that’s bad for business and bad for growth.
“Working people are looking for help but this week millions will look at their payslip and see a tax rise with his fingerprints all over it.
“Does he think his 15th tax rise has made things better or worse for working people?”
Mr Johnson replied: “What we’re doing for working people is not only lifting the living wage by a record amount, helping people on Universal Credit with a £1,000 tax cut, but also cutting national insurance contributions, lifting the threshold so that on average people pay £330 less.”
