Today’s Sunday Times features a tidal wave of allegations about sexism and inappropriate behaviour in Westminster, including licking the faces of researchers, groping, sending “dick pics”, warnings over the use of prostitutes, and having “noisy sex” in parliamentary offices. Can anyone be sure these claims are levelled at separate MPs?

One story certain to begin another Lobby hunt is that a “sexist of the year” award was handed out in No. 10. Despite Angela Rayner penning yet another letter to Boris asking about the allegations, the claim has been removed from The Times’ online story, as sources close to the event in question were quick to point out when questioned. So what’s going on?

Various sources point to the claim being both correct… and incorrect. Incorrect insofar as an award specifically called ‘sexist of the year’ was not handed out. We know an award ceremony happened in December 2021, with Jack Doyle addressing up to 50 people at the party. Guido understands while there may not have been an award specifically called “sexist of the year“, a tongue-in-cheek award along similar lines was handed out. It seems the story doing the round can’t make its mind up between ‘gender equality champion’, or ‘feminist of the year’. Guido won’t give away the in-joke behind the award – it’s pretty inoffensive and doesn’t deserve to damn the recipient.

Another source says the claim of Downing Street awards was not limited to that one Christmas party, with weekly plaudits handed out for things like ‘best rebuttal’. These awards included a ‘teeny tiny cup’ given to the team that had worked hardest or performed best that week. It’ll be difficult for any hack to get a scalp over the story – both the host and awardee have since moved on…

International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan confessed to a harrowing personal experience of abuse in Westminster during her morning media round, when questioned about the ongoing spate of sex and behaviour scandals coming out of Parliament. Trevelyan claims to have been “at the sharp end” of misogyny from MPs multiple times:

“AMT: I have witnessed and been at the sharp end of misogyny from some colleagues many times over…

NF: Might I ask how that misogyny presented itself?

AMT: Well we might describe it as ‘wandering hands’, if you like, we might describe it as, you know, a number of years ago being pinned up against a wall by a male MP who is now no longer in the House I’m pleased to say, declaring that I ‘must want him because he’s a powerful man’.”

Just looking back over the last week, we’ve had Angie’s legs, the porn MP, a shadow cabinet member accused of sexist comments, Trans Tory MP Jamie Wallis charged over a car crash and Liam Byrne suspended for bullying. We’ve almost got enough for a complete re-write of ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’…

Sadiq Khan has a new plan to tackle violence against women and girls. Taking to the airwaves this morning he announced that relationship education will be crucial in challenging sexism and reducing harassment of women, with kids as young as four expected to receive the lessons. The main plank pushed by the mayor this morning is getting men to call out harassing and abusive behaviour when they see their mates perpetuating it:

Male violence against women and girls starts with words.

If you see it happening, have a word with yourself – then your mates. #HaveAWord pic.twitter.com/8PjeBdkFNZ

— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) March 14, 2022

It’s a shame that Sadiq and his remainer mates couldn’t find it within themselves to call time on Bercow after he’d been accused of bullying, harassment and sexism. In 2018 minister Claire Perry accused Bercow of sexism, accusing him of having a “woman problem”, and followed Andrea Leadsom publicly calling him out for describing her as a “stupid woman”. Did Sadiq condemn him? No, he lavished praise on him a year later when he announced his retirement.

Time and again John Bercow has shown courage and conviction in his role as the champion of our Parliamentary democracy – and rarely has it been more sorely needed. I wish him all the best for the future. https://t.co/U06QoDB5RN

— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) September 9, 2019

In 2009, Sadiq Khan boasted of backing him to be speaker of the Commons, despite Bercow telling the Telegraph nine years prior that female MPs’ complaints about sexism in Parliament were “a defence mechanism against their own inadequacy. You don’t find the competent attractive ones like Yvette Cooper moaning on about sexism.” Sadiq’s also stayed oddly quiet on Bercow since last week’s verdict. Remember men, call out sexism – as long as they’re not on your side of the political aisle…

The Labour Party has come down hard on England cricketer Ollie Robinson, fully backing the ECB’s decision to suspend the bowler over his historically racist and sexist tweets. Labour MP and Shadow Culture secretary Jo Stevens said:

“It is right that the ECB takes the action that they think is necessary and appropriate to tackle racism and other forms of discrimination in their sport.” 

Guido wonders why Labour’s zero tolerance policy towards racism does not extend to its own MPs. The hypocrisy is palpable…

The following is a list of Labour MPs and some of their “historic”, offensive social media posts. Guido thinks it’s time to remind the Labour Party of its own dirty laundry and wonders whether Jo Stevens will be as quick to condemn and suspend her Labour colleagues… 

• Ian Byrne, MP for Liverpool, West Derby faced no consequences for several tweets that even he admitted were “unacceptable”. In 2015 Byrne tweeted about businesswoman Michelle Mone, telling his followers to “hit the cu*t where it hurts”. Byrne fell into disrepute again in 2019 after posting that “Everton wives are getting the suitcases out of the loft” – a thinly veiled reference to wife-beating. Guido wonders why Byrne’s sexist tweets are seen as acceptable by the Labour Party whilst Robinson’s are not…
  
• Just this morning Guido revealed that Labour MP and Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion Naz Shah, was filmed speaking at a Pro-Palestine rally in Bradford, where chants of “lift the curse of the Jews off the Muslims in Palestine!”, were shouted by protestors, in Arabic. This isn’t the first time this Labour MP has fallen into hot water. In 2015 she wrote that Israeli’s should face “transportation” out of the Middle East and suggested that Israel should be “relocated” to America. The Labour Party reinstated Naz after a brief suspension period. Guido wonders whether Naz will forgive Ollie Robinson, like she was so kindly forgiven by the Labour Party…
• Zarah Sultana received a slap on the wrist after it was revealed she told a pro-Israel tweeter to “jump off a cliff”, claimed she would “celebrate” the death of Netanyahu, Bush, and Blair, and compared the Holocaust to what she termed the “Muslim Holocaust” in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine. Following a huge storm Sultana apologised, writing: “I’m a sorry that I posted these offensive comments on social media as a teenager. I was young and immature.” Sound familiar?
• Angela Rayner was quick to defend, Labour MP Jared O’Mara, who called gay men “poofters”, arguing that he had “changed his views”. Funny that Labour MP Jared O’Mara is allowed to change his views but Ollie Robinson, English cricketer is not…
• Sir Keir Starmer not only forgave but defended Dr. Paul Williams, the Labour Hartlepool by-election candidate, after he asked his followers if they had a “favourite Tory MILF” in 2011. Though Keir conceded the comments were “wrong” he continued to support Paul Williams. Smells like hypocrisy…
• Labour’s Steve Reed received no punishment after describing a Jewish Tory donor as a “puppet master”. Like Ollie Robinson, Reed apologised “unreservedly” for the tweet. Guido wonders why Robinson’s apology isn’t enough, when Keir was prepared to forgive one of his own so quickly…

It is striking just how many Labour MPs have made offensive comments online and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Labour is very forgiving of their own, less so of teenage cricketers…

The LibDem’s Equalities Spokesman(person) Sarah Olney’s immediate response to yesterday’s mini-budget was to complain of sexism, claiming Sunak’s measures were primarily targetting “male-dominated sectors without measures to engage more women in these industries,” even doing a media round to press this argument. As you can see in the video clip above, she didn’t fare well on TalkRadio…

Welcome news in the Chancellor’s speech - especially the hospitality VAT cut, Job Retention Bonus and investment in green jobs. But new jobs support very focussed on male-dominated sectors without measures to engage more women in these industries.

— Sarah Olney (@sarahjolney1) July 8, 2020

Sarah’s line of argument falls down, however, in ignoring the other major tranche of Rishi’s announcements, which were to help the hospitality sector – the vast majority of whose employees are female. A 2017 report by People1st found 65% of all part-time hospitality and tourism roles are filled by women, rising to 82% in contract food and 72% in hotels. 71% of all waiting staff are also female, and will be delighted by Rishi’s “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme, and the 15% reduction in VAT for the sector. Dishy Rishi doing much more for women than sexist Sarah…