Douglas Ross has condemned the “disgusting” claims made by “cowardly” Tories which accused Angela Rayner of making an attempt to distract the Prime Minister by crossing and uncrossing her legs.
The Scottish Conservative chief mentioned he anticipated these behind the story would face punishment if their identification was ever revealed.
It comes after the Mail on Sunday printed an article based mostly on feedback from nameless Conservatives at Westminster
Ms Rayner herself has insisted the story is “disgusting” and “fully unfaithful”, however mentioned she was “heartened” by the general public’s overwhelming rejection of the article – which in contrast the Labour deputy chief to Sharon Stone’s character within the transfer Primary Intuition, saying she crossed and uncrossed her legs to distract Boris Johnson throughout Prime Ministers’ Questions.
A Tory MP was quoted within the article as saying Ms Rayner “is aware of she will be able to’t compete with Boris’s Oxford Union debating coaching, however has different expertise which he lacks”.
And Mr Ross, who’s each an MP and MSP, mentioned the feedback have been “fully unacceptable” and “disgusting”.
He mentioned: “They’ve allegedly come from a Conservative MP who is just not even courageous sufficient to place their identify to it. They need to be ashamed of language like that.
“Angela Rayner is a political opponent of mine who I disagree with on many coverage points however I’ve by no means questioned her integrity, her ardour, her dedication and I simply suppose that is the worst of politics.
“It’s the kind of factor that may put individuals off, significantly girls.
“We’ve seen right here in Scotland and throughout the UK, the abuse girls in politics get is at a stage that may and may by no means be tolerated.”
And it might deter girls from “atypical” backgrounds from getting into politics, he mentioned.
Within the article, Ms Rayner’s background is described as “a socialist grandmother who left college at 16 whereas pregnant and with no {qualifications} earlier than turning into a care employee”.
When requested by PA information company if he thought the Tory MP needs to be punished, he mentioned: “To say one thing anonymously like that simply reveals it is a cowardly man who’s making an inexpensive jibe which has enormous implications – and never simply on Angela who, I feel, has responded brilliantly, as I’d anticipate a robust lady like her to reply.”
“If this particular person would ever come ahead and settle for they’d completed incorrect I’d anticipate sturdy punishment from whips and they might obtain it from different members of the Conservative Get together.”
Mr Ross mentioned the beliefs held by the nameless Tory MP have prompted “anger and fury” amongst fellow MPs.
Ms Rayner has hit out on the feedback and mentioned they have been “misogynistic” and “classist”.
Boris Johnson has additionally defended the opposition MP and mentioned the nameless MP can be punished if their identification ever got here to gentle.
Kaynak: briturkish.com