The MP who briefed a “misogynistic” claim that Labour’s Angela Rayner tries to distract the Prime Minister in the Commons will be disciplined if caught, a Government minister said on Monday.
It has been claimed that an unnamed Tory MP briefed the “Basic Instinct” story that Ms Rayner attempts to put off Boris Johnson during Prime Minister’s Questions by crossing and uncrossing her legs.
Technology minister Chris Philp said he was “appalled” by the report in the Mail on Sunday and had “never heard anything” like the claims being expressed.
“Nobody should have to suffer the kind of misogynistic abuse that sentiment amounts to,” Mr Philp told Sky News.
“If it ever comes out [who is responsible], I would imagine they would be subject to discipline.
“I think [Government whips] will be looking at whether they know who said this.
“I think everybody is appalled by the misogynistic sentiment.”
The story was condemned by both Conservative and Labour MPs.
Mr Johnson sent the deputy Labour leader a letter on Sunday stating the story was “not in his name” and expressed his sympathy over the anonymous attack.
He also tweeted: “As much as I disagree with @AngelaRayner on almost every political issue I respect her as a parliamentarian and deplore the misogyny directed at her anonymously today.”
The exact wording was tweeted out by Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries.
Mr Philp insisted it was not surprising that Mr Johnson and Ms Dorries had used exactly the same words in the tweets they sent denouncing the claims.
“They share the same view,” he said.
“They have reached the same view and they have used the same words.
“There is nothing surprising that two colleagues in Government have the same view and use the same words.”
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said Ms Rayner does not need to “use her sex” to win an argument at the despatch box.
“I’m afraid that this story just shines a spotlight on the sort of rubbish that female MPs and other women in Parliament have to put up with on a day-to-day basis and it’s got to be called out because Angela Rayner is a fantastic politician and she takes on the Prime Minister when Keir (Starmer) is not available at the despatch box and she does it brilliantly,” she told the BBC.
“She doesn’t need to use her sex to win an argument or put the Prime Minister off, or whatever was suggested in that article. She does it by the strength of her argument, and to suggest otherwise, it’s just disgusting and it doesn’t do justice to the brilliant women we have in Parliament from all sides.”
