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25th Apr 2022

Speaker summons Mail on Sunday editor to meeting over sexist Angela Rayner report

Ava Evans

Sir Lindsay said the comments were ‘misogynistic’ and ‘offensive’.

Speaker of the House has summoned the editor of the Mail on Sunday to discuss an article published about Angela Rayner.

Sir Lindsay said the article was demeaning and offensive to MPs, and could deter women from standing for election.

He confirmed that he would be inviting the editor of the Mail on Sunday, David Dillon, as well as the chair of parliamentary lobby to discuss the matter further.

The Mail on Sunday’s piece claimed Rayner crosses and uncrosses her legs, in hopes of distracting Johnson in the Commons.

It quoted one anonymous Tory MP who said that Rayner “knows she can’t compete with Boris’ Oxford Union debating training, but she has other skills which he lacks”.

Speaker Sir Lindsay told the commons: “I share the views expressed by a wide range of members, including I believe the prime minister, that yesterday’s article was reporting unsubstantial claims [that were] misogynistic and offensive. Those are what we believe.

“I express my sympathy to [Rayner], subject to this type of comment. In being demeaning, offensive to women in parliament, it can only deter women who might considering standing for election to the detriment of us all.

“That is why I have arranged a meeting with the chair of the press lobby [and] the editor of the Mail on Sunday to discuss the issue affecting our parliamentary community.”

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