April 25, 2022
2 mins read

Another political storm hits Boris

Boris Johnson contacted Rayner on Sunday to convey that he considered claims about her misogynistic…reports Ashis Ray

 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “basic instinct” is under a scanner as a new, full-blown sexism controversy enveloped the United Kingdoms parliament.

A sensational piece in the right-wing Mail on Sunday newspaper headlined: “Tories (Conservative party members) accuse Angela Rayner (Deputy Leader of the Opposition Labour party) of Basic Instinct ploy to distract Boris” – a reference to the steamy 1992 film starring Sharon Stone. It further captioned: “MPs claim Labour deputy leader likes to put PM ‘off his stride’ by crossing and uncrossing her legs at PMQs (prime minister’s questions in the House of Commons)”.

The paper quoted a spokesman for Rayner, 41, as saying the suggestion was “categorically untrue”. She does wear short skirts while sitting on the front bench next to the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer during PMQs, but this is generally considered in the western world today as smart rather than sexy dressing.

Johnson contacted Rayner on Sunday to convey that he considered claims about her misogynistic. Referring to the newspaper article, he tweeted: “As much as I disagree with Angela Rayner on almost every political issue, I respect her as a parliamentarian and deplore the misogyny directed at her anonymously today.”

On Monday, The Guardian daily reported: “Johnson is also understood to have written directly to Rayner. The contents of the letter have not been shared, except for one quote reported by the Telegraph (a pro-Johnson broadsheet) that stated: ‘The comments were not in my name’.”

On BBC Radio, the shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “I am sick and tired of the way that female MPs and women are treated in parliament.” She described the incident as an “outrageous slur on Angela”.

Pic credits Twitter

Thereafter appearing on the TV programme BBC Breakfast, she added: “She (Rayner)doesn’t need to use her sex to win an argument or put the Prime Minister off, or whatever was suggested in that article. She does it by the strength of her argument.”

Chris Philip, Technology Minister in Johnson’s government, told Sky News he expected government whips would investigate who had made the comments, and if their identity emerged he would “imagine they would be subject to discipline”.

Glen Owen, political editor of Mail on Sunday, who wrote the story is facing questions over whether his Lobby pass should be withdrawn, the Press Gazette claimed. The UK’s Independent Press Standards Organisation is said to have received 5,500 complaints within 24 hours about the article, which penned: “All is fair in love, war and Commons duels with Boris Johnson, if the claims of Tory MPs are to be believed.”

ALSO READ: Boris’ Indian trip in vain? 

Previous Story

Some women were raped before being killed in Ukraine: Reports

Next Story

Exploring border between figural and the abstract

Latest from -Top News

Macron backs Syria sanctions shift 

 Diplomatic outreach, sanctions, reconstruction, and sectarian unrest shape Syria’s complex new chapter.  In a landmark visit signalling Syria’s first re-engagement with a European capital in over a decade, French President Emmanuel Macron

Up to 1,000 transgender troops moved out

Department officials have said it’s difficult to determine exactly how many transgender service members there are The Pentagon will immediately begin moving as many as 1,000 openly identifying transgender service members out

Singapore lauds UAE field aid

A Singaporean delegation visited the UAE Floating Hospital in Al-Arish, where they toured its various departments and were briefed on the medical and humanitarian services provided to patients arriving from the Gaza

Leaders hail new Pope

The UAE President expressed hope that the pontiff’s tenure would advance global harmony, peace, and interfaith understanding President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has extended warm congratulations to Cardinal

U.S. Cardinal Named Pope Leo XIV

Joy erupted among the clergy and laity awaiting a decision, and all eyes were on the balcony, awaiting the first appearance of the new head of the Roman Catholic Church…reports Asian Lite
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Kashmiri activists in UK slam Pakistan’s rights abuses in PoJK

Kashmiri Nationalist human rights activists, thinkers, politicians and other renowned

UK urges Hamas, Israel to finalize Gaza cease-fire deal

On Friday, Biden said Israel presented a three-phase deal that