Prime Minister reaches out to Oldham MP over misogyny claims

Angela Raynor

Boris Johnson has contacted the MP for Failsworth, Droylsden and Ashton after a Sunday newspaper reported that unnamed Conservative MPs suggested Angela Rayner was attempting to distract the PM in the Commons by crossing and uncrossing her legs.

The Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, posted a series of messages on social media on Sunday, April 24, saying that women in politics “face sexism and misogyny everyday and I’m no different”.

Now the Prime Minister has also stepped into the row by tweeting Ms Rayner saying: “As much as I disagree with Angela Rayner on almost every political issue I respect her as a Parliamentarian and deplore the misogyny directed at her anonymously.”

Ms Rayner replied with a simple “Thank you”.

It was in the latest edition of the Mail on Sunday, when the unnamed Conservative MPs were quoted as suggesting Ms Rayner, 42, was trying to distract Mr Johnson while on the floor of the House of Commons by crossing and uncrossing her legs.

A minister in the Conservative party has said any member found to have these views will be dealt with and face “serious consequences”.

Along with his public post on social media, it’s also thought Boris Johnson contacted Ms Rayner privately by text message on Sunday.