MPs brace for explosive Commons debate amid sexism row

MPs are braced for an explosive Commons debate as Labour and Tory women accuse each other of being soft on sexism.

Bitter clashes have broken out between politicians amid a storm over Labour backbencher Clive Lewis jibing ‘on your knees b****’ at an activist.

Mr Lewis later apologised for the remark, which was delivered to a man on stage at an event during Labour conference. But last night he was accused of reigniting the row by ‘liking’ supportive comments on Twitter.

Labour MPs Jess Phillips and Stella Creasy reacted with anger to Tory demands for a debate about Clive Lewis’s jibe

Tory MP Nusrat Ghani said there needed to be a Commons debate about the way Clive Lewis used his position to 'undermine parliament'

Tory MP Nusrat Ghani said there needed to be a Commons debate about the way Clive Lewis used his position to ‘undermine parliament’

Ms Ghani said she would be asking Speaker John Bercow to call an urgent debate this week

Ms Ghani said she would be asking Speaker John Bercow to call an urgent debate this week

Conservative MP Nusrat Ghani said she would be demanding an urgent Commons debate to discuss why Mr Lewis had used a ‘position of power’ to ‘undermine parliament’.

She was supported by a host of other female Tories, including Kelly Tolhurst who said ‘this continued misogyny can not be left unchallenged’.

But it drew a furious response from Labour MPs, who accused their counterparts of only caring about sexism when it ‘suits’ them.

Jess Phillips said she was looking forward to airing issues during the mooted debate. 

In a series of posts on Twitter, the Labour MP wrote: ‘I’ll tell the stories of the exploited children on waiting lists for mental health assessment. I’ll say the names of women who died when there was no support service left.

‘ll bleed the plight of women all over the floor of parliament and ask them why oh why it is only when is suits that they care.

‘Bring on your debate some of us don’t just care when it suits, some of us are screaming every day at ALL perpetrators.

‘I’ll leave all the sexist stuff Tory men have said and done to women in parliament to my colleagues. I hope it’s a full days debate, the ‘totty’ have lots to say.’ 

Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy added: ‘And I will be there asking why eight months on no progress in consultation on sex and relationship education in school under Tories #srenow’

The angry ripostes came after Ms Ghani said: ‘Monday will ask for urgent debate from Speaker @HouseofCommons. Clive Lewis used position of power & establishment to undermine parliament.’

Fellow Tory Ms Tolhurst added: ‘I will be supporting you on this @NusGhani – This continued misogyny can not be left unchallenged.’

Bitter clashes have broken out between politicians amid a storm over Labour backbencher Clive Lewis (pictured) jibing 'on your knees b****' at an activist

Bitter clashes have broken out between politicians amid a storm over Labour backbencher Clive Lewis (pictured) jibing ‘on your knees b****’ at an activist

In a series of posts on Twitter, Labour MP Jess Phillips spelled out her plans for the debate

In a series of posts on Twitter, Labour MP Jess Phillips spelled out her plans for the debate

A video of Mr Lewis’s jibe emerged on Friday, showing him saying the words to an activist on stage during a mock gameshow at a Momentum event in Brighton. 

Mr Lewis apologised after criticism from deputy party leader Harriet Harman, as well as Ms Phillips and Ms Creasy. 

They insisted the language was unacceptable even said in jest to a man. According to the Telegraph he ‘liked’ tweets playing down the importance of his comments – although there is now no trace of the messages on his feed.

Jeremy Corbyn added his voice to those condemning the remarks last night, saying the former shadow cabinet member has personally apologised to him. 

On a visit to Norwich, the Labour leader told BBC Look East: ‘Completely wrong, should never have said it – completely unacceptable comments.’

He added: ‘He’s been in touch with me to apologise personally to me, and it’s a message to everybody: this kind of language is not acceptable in any circumstances at any time.’

Ms Ghani was supported by a host of other female Tories, including Kelly Tolhurst who said 'this continued misogyny can not be left unchallenged'

Ms Ghani was supported by a host of other female Tories, including Kelly Tolhurst who said ‘this continued misogyny can not be left unchallenged’

Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy was also clearly angry about the Tory criticism

Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy was also clearly angry about the Tory criticism

Asked if the comments pointed to misogyny within the party, he said: ‘It points to a bad remark he made in particular circumstances.

‘I’m leading a party which has more women MPs than all the others put together, and we have more all-women shortlists for selections coming up.’

Mr Lewis, who has previously been spoken of as a future Labour leader, quit the frontbench earlier this year when he rebelled against Mr Corbyn and voted against triggering Brexit negotiations.

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