‘Misogynsts are empowered if female MPs say nothing’

A Leicestershire MP has highlighted examples of sexism and misogyny that she has faced in public life following the furore caused by an article about Labour’s Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner. An anonymous MP has claimed in an article on the Mail on Sunday that Ms Rayner crossed and uncrossed her legs in the Commons to distract Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

The article has been met with a wide backlash from MPs across the political spectrum including Alicia Kearns, Conservative MP for Rutland and Melton. Ms Kearns added that sexism and misogyny pervades Westminster and she and most other female MPs have faced similar treatment to Ms Rayner during their careers.

She has posted a number of extracts from various articles on twitter which commented on her appearance and weight. In one, she was described as having “truncheon-like forearms”.

Another read: “She spoke at such window-shattering volume, she didn’t sound rattled in the slightest. A charming rhinoceros, catching sight of the ambitious Sister Kearns, might have second thoughts and go tiptoeing off into the kinkeliba bushes.”

Ms Kearns added that if that behaviour is not challenged, it contributes “to the permissive environment of sexism that surrounds Parliament”. She also wrote: “When women in politics are consistently demeaned and denigrated for their sex and appearance, misogynists across our country are empowered.”

She added that her male counterparts are not subjected to the same treatment, saying “some journalists are incapable of writing about female MPs without denigrating their appearances rather than their policies”.

Independent MP for Leicester East, Claudia Webbe also told LeicestershireLive that ‘horrific abuse’ towards her had “intensified since becoming an MP” and that she stood in solidarity with Rayner.

She said: “Women face unique, unacceptable challenges in public life. I, like many others, have faced horrific, violent, misogynistic and racist online abuse throughout my political career, which has intensified since becoming an MP. Polling shows that women are being deterred from running for office because of abuse and harassment.

“We cannot accept this. The time has come for the government and the media to bring this epidemic of misogynist abuse to an end.”

Claudia Webbe MP is the member of Parliament for Leicester East. You can follow her at www.facebook.com/claudiaforLE and twitter.com/ClaudiaWebbe