UK: Sexism in Westminster highlighted by a misogynistic tabloid article

A debate in the House of Commons after the Queen's Speech, in London in 2019 (Illustration image).

UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

Text by: Emeline Vin Follow

3 mins

The number two of the Labor opposition is accused of "

" Boris Johnson, seated opposite her, during parliamentary debates by crossing and uncrossing his legs.

The tabloid

takes up in an article published on Sunday the statements of an unnamed Conservative MP.

Since Sunday, it's been a political storm.

editor

has been summoned by the Speaker of the House of Commons.

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From our correspondent in London,

“

” replied Matt Dillon, the editor of the

, on the front page of his tabloid

to the very rare approach of the Speaker of the House of Commons.

Matt Dillon and the author of the article, Glen Owen, had first agreed to come and chat with Sir Lindsay Hoyle to return to the controversy.

But they then felt that with his various speeches, the President of the Commons had already formed his judgment.

It is true that Lindsay has been speaking since Sunday to denounce the publication of the article on Boris Johnson.

They finally “ 

 ” declined the invitation, in the name of freedom of the press.

This has been part of the debate that has agitated the United Kingdom.

Is the journalist responsible for reporting comments made to him?

Does the Parliament have a say on the editorial choices, for example the photos, of a newspaper, all the same in bad taste?

The

, accustomed to schoolboy gossip and photos of naked women, nevertheless recalled that it condemned sexism and misogyny.

Freedom of speech for women politicians

This “story” has brought sexism to light in Westminster.

Since the publication of the article, several elected officials have corroborated the comments made by the unidentified Tory MP.

Namely, that a member would use her body to distract her political opponents and to compensate for her lack of eloquence.

Many female politicians have also spoken in the media to explain that they, too, choose their outfits according to what their colleagues might say: no skirts that are too short, no blouses that are too light, no necklines that are too plunging. .

MEP Harriet Harman, who is the elected EU member who has sat continuously for the longest time, also judges that the situation for women in Parliament has worsened since her election in 1982… They only represent a third women elected to the Lower House – just a little above the OECD average and in line with European Union countries.

'It brings shame on the House of Commons.'

As the row intensifies over sexist remarks made about Labor Deputy leader Angela Rayner, senior Labor MP Harriet Harman has called for a change to the Commons rules to make misogyny punishable by suspension.

pic.twitter.com/aa9QhcQiUk

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) April 26, 2022

70 complaints since 2018

Yes, the British Parliament even had its own movement, “

”.

It was in 2018, since then a monitoring and complaints commission has been set up.

And it goes beyond a schoolboy atmosphere.

The Commission has already received 70 complaints, targeting 56 MPs… including three government members and two opposition spokespersons.

Complaints of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior, complaints from elected officials and parliamentary assistants.

The Speaker of the House, Lindsay Hoyle, said he was distraught by the number of MPs targeted and promised to launch an investigation into working conditions in Parliament.

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