The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats stunned viewers and panellists when she said ‘c**k’ live on morning TV.
Jo Swinson, MP for East Dunbartonshire, was on the BBC show Victoria Derbyshire today to take part in a debate on misogyny. The Scottish politician was in support of police forces including sexism as a hate crime.
She said: ‘The chief constable of Nottinghamshire I think summed it up very well when she said “There’s a big difference between saying ‘can I buy you a drink?’ and saying ‘do you want some c**k?'”‘
‘Now I apologise for using that language on a programme at this time in the morning. If it’s not acceptable to say on your show, why is it acceptable to say to a 15-year-old girl on her way to school?’
Her language sparked a reaction on social media, with viewers taking to Twitter to express their shock.
The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats stunned viewers and panellists when she said ‘c**k’ live on morning TV
Jo Swinson, MP for East Dunbartonshire, was on the BBC show Victoria Derbyshire today to take part in a debate on misogyny. The Scottish politician was in support of police forces including sexism as a hate crime
Steff Georgiou tweeted: Let’s not ignore the fact some woman just said ‘oi do you want my c**k’ before 10.30am #victoriaderbyshire #misogyny’
Edwards Cambs said: ‘At least you caused some panic in some sleepy BBC producers, lol’
Victoria Derbyshire tweeted the clip of Ms Swinson, with the caption: ‘When an MP swears on live TV.’
The MP quoted the tweet and said: ‘Not a word I’d usually use on daytime TV but…’
Last month it emerged that a scheme that could lead to sexism being made a hate crime with tougher sentences could be extended nationwide.
Nottinghamshire Police introduced the trial in 2016 in which it recorded incidents such as wolf whistling, street harassment, verbal abuse and taking photographs without consent as a hate crime.
Police chiefs are due to receive a full report on the pilot scheme and other forces around the country are said to have expressed an interest in following Nottinghamshire’s lead.
Ms Swinson wants it to be rolled out across the country. She said: ‘This is a hate crime that is directed towards you because you happen to be a woman.
‘For schoolgirls walking to school getting leered at, getting shouted at – that kind of harassment is happening on an everyday basis.
‘We’ve seen some of that being called out with campaigns like #metoo.
‘But we also know, all of us women on the panel have all experienced it – most women have experienced some sort of harassment in their daily life at some point.
Last month it emerged that a scheme that could lead to sexism being made a hate crime with tougher sentences could be extended nationwide
Ms Swinson wants it to be rolled out across the country. She said: ‘This is a hate crime that is directed towards you because you happen to be a woman’
‘And it goes without saying – this is not acceptable, this not okay.
‘Many of these things will be crimes anyway, but actually do people report it? Do people think it will be dismissed and people being treated as if they are silly?
‘We’ve seen three police forces that have started to count hate crimes, including misogyny. We’ve seen it in Nottinghamshire, North Yorkshire and Avon & Somerset. I think it’s time it’s extended more widely across the board.’