Speaker under pressure to act over 'stupid woman' commentpublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018
Point of Order
House of Commons
Parliament
Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom asks why the Speaker did not apologise for calling her a stupid woman, asking "why was it when you called me a stupid woman in this Chamber you did not have to apologise?"
The Speaker says he dealt with the matter months ago and that in meetings with Andrea Leadsom since it has been resolved: "It requires no further involvement from the chair whatsoever - the matter has been treated of and I am leaving it there," he concludes.
Conservative MP Ms Soubry says if it was one of my male colleagues that had used that expression against the opposition, "you would take action immediately" urging the Speaker to take action "for women who are fed up of decades of being abused by men".
The Speaker says he cannot be expected to deprecate the behavior of an individual he did not witness, to which Ms Soubry replies that "members can see the evidence on their phones", and asks if the Speaker will act if the footage is shown to him.
"It is incumbent upon that person to recognise the misconduct and apologise for it," he says "if members produce what they believe is evidence it will be considered and I will take professional advice as fair minded people will expect me to do."
Conservative MP Vicky Ford asks the Speaker to confirm that to call somebody "a stupid woman" is not appropriate language for the House "and I include the words, Me Too".
Conservative MP James Cleverly says "I saw it" and calls for the Speaker to act, and the Speaker replies saying he "cannot be expected immediately to cast judgement".