Prime Minister’s Questions was particularly heated today – but not because of Brexit and the prospect of a no deal.
Instead, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is being demanded to apologise after he appeared to call Theresa May a ‘stupid woman.’
The prime minister had made fun of the leader of the opposition after impassioned exchanges, telling him to ‘look behind you.’
It is at this point he appears to have used the phrase. The microphone at the Commons hadn’t picked up what he said, though he appeared to have mouthed the insult.
What followed was precious minutes spent by Conservative MPs demanding Labour apologise for the alleged slight - political editor to the Guardian Heather Stewart, says Corbyn's spokesperson said the Labour leader hadn't called the PM a stupid woman.
Corbyn’s spokesman: “he did not call her a stupid woman, so I don’t think there are any grounds for an apology”. Sa… https://t.co/DNQVOtpPiX— Heather Stewart (@Heather Stewart) 1545225523
“What Jeremy said is what he said he said,” his spox insists. One person sitting near JC at PMQs tells me they thou… https://t.co/nM8dLS5BBz— Heather Stewart (@Heather Stewart) 1545226233
Speaker John Bercow, who had not seen the alleged incident, could not ‘immediately’ rule on what happened, but said he would be happy to see proof of what he said in the form of tweets and or a clip.
The incident prompted many to take to Twitter about it.
Some people were sure that he called her a 'stupid woman.' Others, not so much
@tictoc @Brexit There’s no debate. He said it.— ChrisB (@ChrisB) 1545225469
@PolhomeEditor He didn’t call her anything.— Angie#It’sNotHardToBeLeft 🌹 (@Angie#It’sNotHardToBeLeft 🌹) 1545223451
@PolhomeEditor Oh, so he did say it. I thought it was "Rubbish"— Lineal Conker Champion of the World (@Lineal Conker Champion of the World) 1545224402
According to Labour sources, Corbyn didn't say 'woman'
Corbyn’s spokesman: “He did not call her a ‘stupid woman’. So I don’t think there is a basis for an apology. As I u… https://t.co/xJsEaLDcm8— Joe Watts (@Joe Watts) 1545225502
And Andrea Leadsom questioned why the same fervour wasn't given to an incident a few months ago - when the speaker John Bercow called her stupid
VIDEO: Ooft. Burn of the year? 🔥🔥🔥 @andrealeadsom makes a point of order on Corbyn's 'stupid woman' comment. Just… https://t.co/tvdWEUSnCV— Joe Pike (@Joe Pike) 1545224512
However, the consensus online seemed to be that their focus was off
There are less than 100 days until the Brexit deadline.
@tictoc Perfect. This should distract the main issue - Brexit— Ravi Raj (@Ravi Raj) 1545225423
Yes, if Jeremy Corbyn called Theresa May a "stupid woman" it's outrageous but please Twitter CAN WE NOT DEVOTE THE… https://t.co/alXdQFWY8w— Jane Merrick (@Jane Merrick) 1545223482
More: Woman matches with a thief on Tinder and then matches with his victim
More: This Brexiteer was roasted after complaining about having to pay for travel to other EU countries
