Jess Phillips warns of 'epidemic' of violence as she reads names of more than 100 women killed by men

'If as many people died every week at a sporting event or because they had a specific job, there would be a national outcry,' says Labour MP

A Labour MP has warned that violence against women is an "epidemic" as she read the names of dozens of women who have been killed by men in the last year.

MPs sat in grim silence as Jess Phillips listed more than 100 women who have been murdered by men in the past 12 months and demanded an "end to the culture of male violence" responsible for their deaths.

To mark International Women's Day, Ms Phillips also read the names of women and girls killed in terror attacks, including Manchester bombing victims Saffie Roussos, 8, and 18-year-old Georgina Callander.

The Birmingham Yardley MP, who worked in a women's refuge before being elected, said: "Violence against women and girls is an epidemic. If as many people died every week at a sporting event or because they had a specific job, there would be a national outcry.

"These women deserve the same. We must all do better to hear their stories and to the end the culture of male violence that killed them."

In a 10-minute speech, Ms Phillips also paid tribute to Karen Ingala Smith, who runs the Counting Dead Women project, for sending her the list, which she read out for the third year running.

She added: "Women like Karen face backlash for undertaking such research and after today I will be told that I don't care about men who died, which is obviously ridiculous and it is never said to those who stand up and honour the men of this country.

"I am grateful that Karen Ingala Smith ignores this and remains on the side of the women who died, not the forces who want to ignore it."

Ms Phillips also listed the female victims of terror attacks, adding: "We must recognise that the patterns of violent behaviour and the perpetration of violence against women and girls has been seen in the past history of those who go on to commit terrorist atrocities."

Her comments came during a parliamentary debate on International Women's Day, a global celebration of the social, economic and political achievements of women.