'Misogynstic' Angela Rayner comments condemned across political parties
Boris Johnson has apologised to Ms Rayner over the comments
Last updated 25th Apr 2022
MPs have rallied around deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner after she was the victim of 'misogynstic' comments by an unidentified Conservative MP.
The MP, who has remained anonymous, suggested that Ms Rayner was distracting Boris Johnson by crossing and uncrossing her legs at Prime Minister's Questions.
After the comments were published in the Mail on Sunday, the comments were condemned by MPs from across the political spectrum.
Ms Rayner denied the allegations, branding the comments 'desperate' and 'perverted' before receiving a host of support from throughout the House of Commons.
"Boris Johnson's cheerleaders have resorted to spreading desperate, perverted smears in their doomed attempts to save his skin," she said.
"They know exactly what they are doing. The lies they are telling."
Boris Johnson also sent a personal text message to Ms Rayner apologising for the 'misogyntic' remarks, saying they were 'not in his name'.
"As much as I disagree with Ms Rayner on almost every political issue I respect her as a parliamentarian and deplore the misogyny directed at her anonymously today," he later wrote on Twitter.
Speaking following the allegations, Technology Minister Chris Philp said that if the unidentified Tory MP responsible for the comments is found, they will be properly disciplined.
"I think that if anyone is identified having views like those that were expressed, which are just outrageous and misogynistic, then I would expect serious consequences to follow," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
Similarly, Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer said that there would be a 'zero tolerance' approach to such attitudes within his own party.