Boris Johnson has said claims made about Tameside MP Angela Rayner by an unidentified Tory MP over the weekend were ‘the most appalling load of sexist, misogynist tripe’ during a visit to Bury’s Gigg Lane stadium today.
The Prime Minister was visiting the famous stadium to mark its return to football after opening its turnstiles for the first time since 2019 yesterday (April 25). But his visit was marred with questions over the comments made about Ms Rayner, the results of the Sue Gray report, and an attempt at kicking a football.
Over the weekend, The Mail On Sunday reported that an unnamed Tory MP had said Ms Rayner crossed and uncrossed her legs during Prime Minister’s Questions in an attempt to distract Mr Johnson, comparing the move to Sharon Stone’s infamous scene in 1992 film Basic Instinct.
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Mr Johnson has reportedly already written to Ms Rayner to make assurances that the comments were “not in his name”, expressing his sympathy over the anonymous attack. Ms Rayner has called the comments ‘desperate, perverted smears’ on her name.
Press regulator Ipso today confirmed it had received more than 5,500 complaints over the article. It said it would now explore whether the article had breached the Editor’s Code of Practice for accuracy, harassment and discrimination.
At Gigg Lane today, Mr Johnson reiterated that the comments made were unjust and threatened to unleash the “terrors of the earth” on those responsible. "I immediately got in touch with Angela and we had a very friendly exchange,” the Prime Minister told PA News.
In a King Lear reference, he threatened to unleash “the terrors of the earth” on the source behind the comments if they were ever identified. He said: “If we ever find who is responsible for it, I don’t know what we will do, but they will be the terrors of the earth. It’s totally intolerable, that kind of thing.”
Later on the pitch, Mr Johnson was approached about the final report of the senior civil servant Sue Gray ahead of its publication. The Prime Minister said he would not comment, despite claims he could be forced to resign.
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“There is absolutely no circumstance in which I’m going to comment on that before the thing is complete,” he said in a pooled clip for broadcasters during a visit to Bury. Asked if he was still an asset to the Tories in the forthcoming local council elections, he said: “I’m not denying that.”
He added: “I think that the greatest asset the Conservatives have are Conservative values and the way that Conservative councillors up and down the country deliver taxpayer value. That’s what really matters. And I think that’s what people will be focused on, and we will be fighting for every vote right up till polling day.”
The Prime Minister was also asked about the recent election win for French President Emmanuel Macron. Mr Johnson said it was “very important” to have a French president “who can be relied upon” on international issues such as the war in Ukraine.
Mr Johnson told reporters in Bury : “I think it’s very important that we have in Paris, a president of the French Republic who can be relied upon when it comes to some of the most important international issues, and particularly when you look at what’s been going on in Ukraine.
“It’s not right for friendly governments to comment on elections in neighbouring countries but what I can certainly say is that it is very, very important that Emmanuel and I have been able to work closely together on Ukraine over the last few weeks and months.
“We share a very common, very similar perspective and the unity of the West, the unity of Nato, has been absolutely vital for the stance we’ve taken against Putin, and that will now continue and I’m very, very reassured by that.”
The Prime Minister was visiting Gigg Lane to mark the stadium’s return to football after a three-year hiatus. Bury FC were kicked out of the Football League in 2019 and then subsequently fell into administration. Two supporters groups, Forever Bury and Est. 1885, later successfully lodged a bid to acquire the iconic stadium, club, name and memorabilia.
Mr Johnson today met with members of the Bury FC Supporters Foundation, following Sunday’s first match since 2019 between Bury FC Foundation Women's Team and the Fleetwood Town Wrens.
"You've done an amazing job to restore it," he told members. "Great work.” He was handed his own Bury FC shirt with number ten and ‘Boris’ on the back, before having a go with the pitch marker. Lastly, he couldn’t resist having a kick of the ball on the infamous pitch before quipping that the Bury weather was a “bit nippy”.
