‘Misogynists are empowered if female MPs say nothing’
COUNTY PAIR SPEAK OUT FOLLOWING ANGELA RAYNOR FURORE
female county MPs have spoken out over the sexism and misogyny that still exist in the corridors of power.
Conservative MP Alicia Kearns (Rutland and Melton) and Labour’s Claudia Webbe (Leicester East) highlighted examples of sexism and misogyny they have faced in public life following the furore caused by an article about Labour’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner.
An anonymous Tory MP claimed in an article on the Mail on Sunday that Ms Rayner would cross and uncross her legs in the Commons to distract Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the Despatch Box.
The article was met with a backlash from MPs across the political spectrum, including Ms Kearns.
She said sexism and misogyny pervades Westminster and she and most other female MPs have faced similar treatment to Ms Rayner during their careers.
She posted a number of extracts from various comments on Twitter which commented on her appearance and weight.
In one, she was described as having “truncheon-like forearms”.
Ms Kearns added that if such behaviour is not challenged, it contributes “to the permissive environment of sexism that surrounds Parliament”.
She also wrote: “When women in politics are consistently demeaned and denigrated for their sex and appearance, misogynists across our country are empowered.”
She added that her male counterTWO
parts are not subjected to the same treatment, saying “some journalists are incapable of writing about female MPs without denigrating their appearances rather than their policies”.
Independent MP for Leicester East, Claudia Webbe, also told the Mercury that “horrific abuse” towards her had “intensified since becoming an MP” and that she stood in solidarity with Ms Rayner.
She said: “Women face unique,
unacceptable challenges in public life. I, like many others, have faced horrific, violent, misogynistic and racist online abuse throughout my political career, which has intensified since becoming an MP.
“Polling shows that women are being deterred from running for office because of abuse and harassment.
“We cannot accept this. The time has come for the government and the media to bring this epidemic of misogynist abuse to an end.”
Yesterday a female Cabinet minister has said she was once “pinned up against a wall” by a male MP.
International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan told LBC Radio: “I’ve witnessed and been at the sharp end of misogyny from some colleagues many times over.
“We might describe it as wandering hands, if you like, we might describe it as, you know, a number of years ago being pinned up against a wall by a male MP – who is now no longer in the House, I’m pleased to say – declaring that I must want him because he was a powerful man.
“These sorts of things, these power abuses, that a very small minority, thank goodness, of male colleagues show is completely unacceptable”.
She said the vast majority of her male colleagues were “delightful” and “committed parliamentarians”, but said some male colleagues should “keep your hands in your pockets and behave as you would if you had your daughter in the room.”