Fury at ‘on your knees b**ch’ outburst by Corbynite MP
A LABOUR MP was forced to apologise yesterday after a video emerged of him saying, ‘Get on your knees, b**ch,’ during the party’s conference last month.
Clive Lewis, Labour’s former business spokesman, was filmed making the derogatory comment at an event held by the hard-Left Momentum group, which backs Jeremy Corbyn.
The video drew widespread criticism in Labour ranks, with former deputy party leader Harriet Harman tweeting: ‘Inexplicable. Inexcusable. Dismayed.’
Jess Phillips, chairman of the Women’s Parliamentary Labour Party, also took to social media to express concern.
She tweeted: ‘Just seen the Clive Lewis video. Obviously I am appalled, just listened to seven teenage girls speak up about gender inequality. Perhaps I’ll bring them to work on Monday.’
Former minister Yvette Cooper tweeted: ‘Agree w[ith] Jess. No excuse for saying this, whatever context.’ Labour MP Stella Creasy also branded the remarks unacceptable. She tweeted: ‘It’s not OK. Even if meant as a joke, reinforces menace that men have the physical power to force compliance.’
A Momentum source said Mr Lewis, once an ally of Mr Corbyn, made the comments to a male participant on stage who was kneeling down to take the score during a game show segment at a conference event, not to a female audience member.
Tory equalities minister Justine Greening also waded in, saying the joke represented ‘unacceptable attitudes’.
She added: ‘Seen Clive Lewis apology – problem is not just using this sort of language, but the unacceptable attitudes behind it which need to change.’
Last night Miss Greening sent a letter to the Labour leader calling for him to condemn the comments used by Mr Lewis.
She wrote: ‘The use of language by Clive Lewis MP was totally and utterly unacceptable in the world of the “kinder, gentler politics” you claim to support. Senior women in the Labour Party have understandably condemned his words, and as leader of the Labour Party, you should too.’ She said there had been numerous incidents of sexism under his leadership.
Fellow Conservative MP Mims Davies tweeted: ‘Astounding inappropriate language ... I think @jesphillips needs to get you on an URGENT training course. This must stop.’ Following the outcry, Mr Lewis, the Norwich South MP, said: ‘I apologise unreservedly for the language I used. It was offensive and unacceptable.’
One of Labour’s rising stars, in February he was forced to dismiss speculation that he might challenge Mr Corbyn for leadership of the party.
Mr Lewis quit the party’s frontbench earlier this year when he rebelled against Mr Corbyn and voted against triggering Brexit negotiations. A former soldier and TV reporter, he was previously Labour defence spokesman on Mr Corbyn’s front bench.
He was later moved to business spokesman, shortly after reports of a rift behind the scenes over the party’s policy on Trident.
Yesterday, a Labour spokesman said: ‘The party condemn the language used by Clive Lewis. It was completely unacceptable and falls far short of the standard we expect.’
Guy Adams – Pages 14 &15
‘Inexplicable and inexcusable’