Corbyn in misogyny row over 'stupid woman' remark aimed at Theresa May

Jeremy Corbyn was shown saying something under his breath

Britain's Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn has become embroiled in a misogyny row after being accused of mouthing "stupid woman" at Prime Minister Theresa May in the House of Commons.

Mr Corbyn was shown saying something under his breath after Mrs May likened his attempt to force a confidence vote in her earlier this week to a Christmas pantomine.

It brought condemnation from Tory MPs, with party chairman Brandon Lewis urging him to either "apologise or clarify" what he had mouthed.

The Commons descended into uproar as MPs attempted to get Speaker John Bercow to take action against Mr Corbyn, who had left the chamber, and bring him back to explain his remarks.

Deputy Tory chairman James Cleverly said: "This kind of misogynistic language must not be tolerated."

And Health Secretary Matt Hancock added: "The mask slips. Jeremy Corbyn's abuse of the Prime Minister shows what a reactionary misogynist he is."

Mr Corbyn's spokesman said: "He is clear that he didn't say 'stupid woman' and has no time for any misogynistic abuse of any kind. People who are trying to make out he said something he didn't have to account for themselves."

He said that Mr Corbyn would be willing to repeat his denial in the Commons chamber.

Asked why the Labour leader had left the Commons immediately after Prime Minister's Questions, rather than waiting to hear the points of order, the spokesman said: "As I understood it, he was leaving the chamber because of the point that was being raised.

"I think there was a lack of clarity about what was happening at that time and what was being said, and so that needed to be established."

The spokesman confirmed that Mr Corbyn was shown material by colleagues on mobile phone screens during questions, saying: "They were trying to draw (his) attention to what was going on and what was being said." 

The spokesman said that Mr Corbyn felt MPs were not taking Mrs May's "reckless and cynical" behaviour over Brexit with appropriate seriousness.

"There clearly is stupidity around this issue, and I don't think anybody would seriously deny that," he said.

He added: "We are dealing with the most serious issue facing the country. This is a national crisis. The behaviour and the attempt to belittle what is being discussed and to turn it into a pantomime is obviously completely unacceptable."

The spokesman added: "Of course he has respect for all MPs.

"But I think what we are dealing with is a situation... where the Prime Minister has behaved in a reckless and cynical manner by pushing the vote back on her deal, which she knows cannot pass Parliament, in an attempt to try to force MPs to back her deal.

"The attempt to drive up the risk of a no deal or to give that impression is designed to create a false choice between no deal and her deal. As he said in the chamber, no deal is not an option and the Government will not allow that to happen. She knows that perfectly well, which is why it's cynical.

"It's an attempt to dragoon MPs into supporting her bad deal and try and avoid MPs having the possibility of considering alternatives."