THE Tory leadership's attitude towards women has been raised again after William Hague was called on to make a public apology for calling Shadow Treasury Minister Cathy Jamieson a "stupid woman" at Commons question-time.
The Foreign Secretary was seen to have mouthed the words as the MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun asked about whether a Tory donor's gift to the party had "any influence on the Foreign Secretary's intervention in his company's tax dispute".
Fiona O'Donnell, who represents East Lothian, raised a point of order in which she mentioned reports that the Secretary of State had "twice shouted the words 'stupid woman'".
She told the Speaker: "I know the Foreign Secretary to be a man who has done great good in his job and he is already regretting those comments and I was wondering whether it would be appropriate for you to give him the opportunity to apologise to ensure that his reputation but also the reputation of this place is not damaged by such behaviour."
Mr Hague responded by saying: "I mutter many things in this House. Others shout them rather louder than I do but I mutter many things under my breath and I never intend any offence to any other honourable members."
Ms O'Donnell branded Mr Hague's "mealy-mouthed excuses" inadequate, and said that the incident "makes it even clearer that the nasty party is alive and well".
Ms Jamieson said: "I hope William Hague, who likes to be seen as a statesmanlike figure, would be gracious enough to apologise and we can move on.
"There is no place for these types of comments and it would also have been nice to have had an answer to my question."
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