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United Kingdom

UK opposition leader denies calling PM May a 'stupid woman'

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says something under his breath after the British Prime Minister Theresa May likened Labour's attempt to table a no confidence motion in her to a pantomime, during the weekly Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London, Wednesday Dec. 19, 2018. With 100 days until Britain leaves the European Union, the government was publishing long-awaited plans Wednesday for a post-Brexit immigration system that will end free movement of EU citizens to the U.K. (House of Commons/PA via AP)

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    Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks during Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons in London, Wednesday Dec. 19, 2018. Speaking of the proposed Brexit deal Corbyn said "No-deal would be a disaster for our country and no responsible government would ever allow it."(House of Commons/PA via AP)

LONDON – Britain's main opposition leader sparked a political furor Wednesday after he was accused of calling Prime Minister Theresa May a "stupid woman" in the House of Commons.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was caught on camera appearing to mutter the insult during the prime minister's weekly question-and-answer session.

He denied, it, saying instead that he had called Conservative lawmakers "stupid people."

The always-lively session was even more heated than usual, as lawmakers' frustrations and divisions over Brexit boiled over into raucous shouting and personal jibes. Britain expected to leave the European Union on March 29 but lawmakers from many political stances are against May's Brexit plan.

Conservative legislators yelled "Shame!" and "Disgraceful!" at Corbyn after the alleged jibe.

"I did not use the words 'stupid woman' about the prime minister or anyone else, and am completely opposed to the use of sexist or misogynist language in absolutely any form at all," Corbyn said.

The incident came as Britain's Parliament attempts to end bullying, abuse and sexual harassment. Earlier this year, a cross-party working group reported that one in five parliamentary workers had experienced or witnessed sexual harassment in the previous year.

It's not the first time a male political leader in Britain has been accused of using sexist language.

In 2011, then-Prime Minister David Cameron was accused of sexism when he adopted a catchphrase from a popular commercial and told a female lawmaker to "calm down, dear."

Wednesday's incident also has echoes of Donald Trump branding Hillary Clinton a "nasty woman" during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign.

As British media outlets enlisted lipreaders to try to determine what exactly Corbyn had said, actor Rob Lowe was among those who offered their opinions on social media.

"FYI- I have to say, I saw Jeremy Corbin call the Prime Minister a "stupid woman" with my own eyes watching on @SkyNewsPolitics," Lowe tweeted.