Did UK Opposition leader call PM May "stupid woman"? Corbyn says no
December 19, 2018 23:21
British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn was accused of being a sexist and a misogynist and faced calls on Wednesday to apologise for apparently calling embattled Prime Minister Theresa May a "stupid woman" as they clashed in Parliament over her controversial Brexit deal.
The incident happened days after European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he did not personally insult Prime Minister May by calling her "nebulous" after footage emerged of a fiery clash between him and her in Brussels over a supposed jibe.
Opposition Labour Party leader Corbyn was caught on camera mouthing some words during a heated exchange in the House of Commons, which many believe was directed specifically at May but he insisted he had only said "stupid people".
Conservative Party MPs called on the Labour leader to be ordered to apologise but the Speaker of the Commons, John Bercow, said he could not "immediately" rule on it as he had not seen the incident in action.
"I did not use the words 'stupid woman' about the prime minister or anyone else, and am completely opposed to the use of sexist or misogynist language in absolutely any form at all," Corbyn later said in a statement in the House after being called on by the Speaker to clarify.
"I referred to those who I believe were seeking to turn a debate about the national crisis facing our country into a pantomime as 'stupid people'," he said.
His statement followed hours of parliamentary drama, during which the Speaker said he had employed the expertise of "lip speakers" at short notice in an attempt to curtail the row. He concluded that the Opposition Leader "must be taken at his word" and that it was not up to him to cast judgement on the matter.
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