Edinburgh West MP calls for a clampdown on sexism in politics

Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine has called for a renewed clampdown on sexism in politics and for misogyny to be made a hate crime.

This comes after the Mail on Sunday ran a story which reported that Conservative MPs accused Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner of putting the Prime Minister "off his stride" by crossing her legs in the House of Commons.

Ms Jardine (Lib Dems) said: “Every woman in politics, let alone Westminster, has a story to tell about sexism that they have had to endure, and sadly this newspaper report didn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know about some of the shocking views heard in Westminster. But there must be consequences for those expressing them and repercussions for any Tory MP going around saying this. It is belittling and derogatory and completely unacceptable.”

She added: “If this is not called out, it will deter women from coming into politics, and it’s only encouraging a better gender balance so that we can have women shown the respect they deserve.

Christine Jardine MP.

“We cannot allow people to get away with this blatant sexism. I hope Conservative MPs will back up their words of support with action and join Liberal Democrats in calling for misogyny to be made a hate crime.”