'Stupid woman': A mini history of sexism in Westminster, from Jeremy Corbyn to David Cameron

Whether you believe Mr Corbyn said ‘stupid woman’ or not, it is not the first time a sexism row has broken out among Westminster politicians

After the row in the House of Commons on Wednesday about whether Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called Theresa May a “stupid woman”, here is a list of all the offences and claimed sexism against senior politicians.

Jeremy Corbyn (stupid woman, allegedly)

The Labour leader was filmed on the frontbench apparently saying the words “stupid woman” after Theresa May had responded whimsically to one of his questions.

His spokesman later denied that he had said it, saying instead that he had uttered “stupid people”.

Famous percussionist Evelyn Glennie, who is deaf and can lip read, saw footage and said she was certain it was “stupid woman”.

David Cameron (calm down, dear)

In 2011, Labour demanded an apology from the former prime minister David Cameron after he told the MP Angela Eagle to “calm down, dear” in a heated exchange in the Commons.

His use of the word “dear”, another MP claimed, was to “put women down”.

A No 10 spokesperson later told journalists that it was intended to be a “humorous remark”.

Nicholas Soames (barking)

Last year, Nicholas Soames, the Conservative MP and grandson of Winston Churchill, apologised to then-SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh for making a “woof” noise at her in the chamber in a bizarre outburst.

He referred to the sound as a “friendly canine salute” as he made his apology.

William Hague (stupid, stupid woman)

In 2013, then-foreign secretary William Hague was on the front bench when Labour MP and shadow Treasury minister Cathy Jamieson, questioned why he had personally intervened in a £200m tax dispute in Uganda involving the company of a major Tory donor.

As erstwhile prime minister David Cameron rose to assure her donations to the Tories do not buy influence, Hague could be seen muttering angrily, “stupid, stupid woman”.

He was later forced to apologise.

Gordon Brown meets Gillian Duffy in 2010 (Reuters)

Gordon Brown (bigoted woman)

In 2010, the then-Labour leader was in full election campaign mode when he came across Gillian Duffy, a 65-year-old former council worker and lifelong Labour voter who had bumped into him in Rochdale as she was out buying a loaf of bread.

She made some comments about immigration and in turn he called her a “bigoted woman”, to an aide as he was being whisked away in his Jaguar.

Boris Johnson (Lady Nugee)

Boris Johnson was branded “sexist” by Commons speaker John Bercow after calling shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry by her husband’s name to ridicule her.

Johnson referred to her as “Lady Nugee” – a reference to her marriage to High Court judge Sir Christopher Nugee.

“We don’t name call in this chamber,” Bercow told Johnson in a stern telling off.

After Bercow’s intervention, Johnson apologised for “inadvertent sexism or discourtesy”.

John Bercow (stupid woman)

In May this year, John Bercow was heard by some MPs calling Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the Commons, a “stupid woman”.

It allegedly came after Labour protested that the government was repeatedly breaching convention that time reserved for opposition debates should not be taken up with statements on government business.

A few weeks later, the speaker escaped investigation by the standards watchdog because, under parliamentary rules, it is the speaker’s responsibility to rule on behaviour in the chamber.

Mr Bercow had admitted using the word “stupid” during a disagreement with Ms Leadsom, but denied insulting her personally.

Philip Hammond (stupid woman)

Philip Hammond was accused of calling hardline pro-Brexit campaigner Andrea Jenkyns a “stupid woman” in July this year, after she asked Theresa May a barbed question in the Commons.

The Tory MP for Morley and Outwood took aim at the prime minister’s Chequers plan on Brexit and asked her: “At what point was it decided Brexit meant Remain?”

After Mr Hammond muttered the alleged two-words, fellow Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg fumed: “I cannot believe that the chancellor would say something so rude – not only to Andrea but effectively to all Brexit voters.”

But the controversy evaporated when Ms Jenkyns brushed it off, saying the remark was part of the “cut and thrust” of politics.