Boris Johnson has threatened to unleash the “horrors of the earth” on anyone who comments on Angela Raynor in front of a newspaper who have been harshly condemned as misogynists.
The prime minister described the statement in the Mail on Sunday, citing Tory MPs, as Labor’s deputy leader deliberately distracted Mr Johnson by crossing and crossing his legs as a “misogynistic belly”.
An anonymous source said: “She knows she can’t compete with Boris’s Oxford Debate Training, but she has other skills she lacks.”
Technology Minister Chris Philpe told Sky News that the Tory whips will “see if they know” who made the comments and have found they are likely to be “disciplined”.
Political Center: Boris Johnson sends “short but heartfelt” message to Angela Raynor
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer has said that the culture of “misogynist” in parliament needs to change.
Asked if there was a cultural problem in Westminster, the prime minister, speaking during a visit to Bury, said: “It is difficult to say based on this particular story.
“But I have to say that I thought this was the most horrible sexist, misogynistic belly.
“I immediately contacted Angela and we had a very friendly conversation.
“If we ever find out who is responsible for this, I don’t know what we will do, but they will be the horrors of the earth.
“It’s completely unbearable, stuff like that.”
Image: Angela Raynor says prime minister’s cheerleaders have resorted to spreading desperate, perverted slander
Earlier, Mr. Philip told Sky News: “I was horrified that this feeling was expressed.
“It’s insulting, misogynistic.
“The prime minister and cabinet ministers were absolutely right to strongly condemn this sentiment and offer support to Angela Raynor on this issue.
“I’ve never heard anyone say anything like that or even hint at it, and if I did, I would be disgusted and horrified.
“No one should suffer from the abuse that this feeling equals.
“If anyone ever says that, I guess they will be disciplined.”
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1:50 Minister: Rayner’s article is “misogynist”
Asked if the whips would be looking to find out who informed the newspaper, Mr Philip said: “I think they will check if they know who said that.
“I have no idea who said it.
“No one has ever told me anything like this or even hinted at it.
“I think everyone is horrified by the misogynistic feeling.
“We all need to maintain a tone of civic and respectful discourse in public life and focus on the issues our constituents expect us to deal with, not deal with this kind of – which is essentially – abuse.
Ms Raynor responded to the article over the weekend, saying: “Women in politics face sexism and misogyny every day – and I’m no different.
“Boris Johnson’s cheerleaders resorted to desperate, perverted slander in their doomed attempts to save his skin.”
On Monday, Ms Raynor’s Labor colleague Rachel Reeves, a shadow chancellor, said she was “not surprised” by the story with “great sadness”.
“This kind of sexism and misogyny, to be honest, is a kind of garbage that women MPs, but also employees of the House of Commons have to endure every day.
“When I hear a minister say, ‘I’ve never heard of such a thing before,’ talk to your colleagues, talk to the women who work in your office, because a lot of them would experience that.”
Commenting on the story, Sir Keir Starmer told ITV’s This Morning program: “This is outright sexism, misogyny. She was really disgusted that all her political qualities had been turned away from this ridiculous, insulting story.
“She should not tolerate this, but all women in politics should not tolerate it. Almost every woman in politics has had an element of this in some form or form.
“We need to change the culture. The culture in parliament, it’s sexist, it’s misogynistic. We need to change it.”
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