Angela Rayner today spoke out over “disgusting” claims she uncrosses her legs to distract Boris Johnson - from Tory MPs who think “I must be thick”.
Labour ’s deputy leader branded the attack “classist” as well as sexist in her first broadcast interview since Tory sources aired the claims in a Mail on Sunday article.
She revealed she was left “fearful” and “really down” when tipped off, worrying about what her teenage sons would think.
“It’s not about my legs,” she said. “I didn’t want people at home thinking ‘let’s have a look to see what her legs are like and how short her skirt is or not’.”
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle yesterday summoned the Mail on Sunday’s editor for a meeting over the "offensive" article.
It quoted claims she distracted Boris Johnson at PMQs by crossing and uncrossing her legs like the film Basic Instinct.
It also claimed the comprehensive-educated former care worker and grandmother, 42, did so because she couldn’t compete with the Old Etonian PM’s Oxford debating skills.
The story triggered a wave of condemnation over sexism and snobbery from across the political divide, including from Boris Johnson himself who branded it “tripe”.
Today Ms Rayner said she hoped the backlash would be a tipping point in public opinion.
She told Lorraine: “I felt really fearful of the story coming out, thinking ‘that’s what people will think of me’.
“And then actually the response from the public, from all political parties… has been to condemn it and I think that’s heartened me.”
Ms Rayner said she already has to battle to be heard because she did not go to Eton and is not a suit-wearing man.
She went on: “It wasn’t just about me as a woman, saying I was using the fact I was a woman against the Prime Minister.
“Which I think is quite condescending to the Prime Minister as well it shows you what his MPs think about his behaviour.
“But it was also steeped in classism as well and about where I come from and how I grew up - that I must be thick and I must be stupid because I went to a comprehensive school.
“Then they talk about my background because I had a child when I was young, as if to say I’m promiscuous, that was the insinuation, which I felt was quite offensive to people from my background.”
She went on: "I've been overwhelmed because, when I heard the story was coming out and we rebutted it instantly, and was like 'This is disgusting, it's completely untrue. Please don't run a story like that.'
“I was with my teenage sons, I felt really sad ... I was trying to prepare my children for seeing things online that they don't want to see their mum portrayed that way.
"I felt really down about that, but I was overwhelmed by people's response because I just thought 'Is that what people expect and think about what I do?'
"All I worry about when I'm at the despatch box is doing a good job and being able to do justice to my constituents and the work I'm doing.
“So I was just really crestfallen that somebody had said that to a paper and a paper was reporting that."
In a message to men in politics, she said: “All us women - and men - can make a conscious effort every single day to improve what’s happening for women.”
Mr Johnson - who in 2012 wrote how semi-naked beach volleyball players were “glistening like wet otters” - yesterday blasted the story as "the most appalling load of sexist, misogynist tripe".
Quoting Shakespeare's King Lear, he warned: "If we ever find who was responsible for it, I don't know what we will do with them, but they will be the terrors of the earth."
The Speaker condemned the article as "misogynistic and offensive" and warned it could put off women from entering politics."
"The story can only deter women who might consider standing for election," he told MPs.
Sir Lindsay summoned David Dillon, Editor of the Mail on Sunday, and the chairman of the Press Gallery for a meeting in the Commons later this week.
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer gushed over his colleague describing her as a "fantastic and formidable woman" and a "brilliant politician" who has so much to offer the British people.
He told ITV's This Morning: "I actually think it's a culture thing, and therefore going after one or two individuals isn't enough. We've got to change the culture in Parliament."
Tory MP Caroline Nokes, chair of the Women and Equalities committee, said: "Why should female MPs have to put up with the sort of comments that are simply not used against their male contemporaries?
"Every political party asks itself the question how they can attract more women to stand as candidates. And reporting like this makes it harder".
The Speaker’s intervention prompted concerns over freedom of speech, especially if he heeds calls to remove the journalist’s parliamentary pass.
But a Government minister backed Commons leader Sir Lindsay Hoyle for hauling in Mail On Sunday journalists behind the widely-condemned "sexist" story about Angela Rayner.
Armed forces minister James Heappey told Sky News: "If the Speaker is going to put a shot across the bows about the way women in Parliament are being reported, that's a good thing.
"I have no doubt he is protecting freedom of speech and he won't want to see that impinged but I do think that Westminster has got itself into a mess and it looks awful."
