A newspaper’s suggestion that Angela Rayner was trying to distract the Prime Minister by crossing her legs in the House of Commons was “an outrageous insult” and “sexist,” her constituents said.
A Mail on Sunday article quoted unnamed Tory MPs as saying the Labor deputy leader was trying to scare off Boris Johnson.
The Ashton-under-Lyne MP dismissed it as a “perverse slander” showing the misogyny faced by women in politics.
In the city, people resented what had been said about their deputy.
Volunteer Fiona Codling, 42, said it was “an unheard of thing for the Tories to say about another MP”.
The 42-year-old said Ms Rayner was “quite feisty but it’s just sexist”.
“A woman should be allowed to practice her profession without such attacks,” she added.
Retired factory worker Margaret Derbyshire said the article was “amazing” and that it was “disgusting for her to be smeared like that”.
“You should hang your head in shame,” said the 71-year-old.
“She is a decent woman and politician and did not deserve such sexism.”
Taxi driver Chris Vickerstaff said it showed “what a sexist place the House of Commons is” and was “behind the times”.
The 63-year-old, who said he was not a supporter of Ms Rayner and had voted Conservative in the last election, said those quoted “showed their true colors”.
“She didn’t deserve that,” he said.
“It is, at the end of the day, outrageous slander and utterly sexist.”
Mark Thomas said the article was “a diversionary tactic”.
The 45-year-old, who is unemployed, said he believed the Conservatives were “just trying to divert attention from the cost of living and Boris’ parties”.
“Ultimately, it’s sexist to say that, but it doesn’t surprise me,” he said.
Angela Wilson said Ms Rayner was “a good MP who works hard”, adding: “She should be treated by how she does her job, not by her looks.”
The 29-year-old mother-of-one said she couldn’t believe “they’ve come up with something so incredible”.
“Even Boris condemned it,” she added.
Following the publication of the article – which has now been changed to the headline about the backlash over the comments – it was widely condemned by politicians on both sides of the House.
The Prime Minister, who condemned the allegation and said he contacted Ms Rayner about what was written, has threatened to unleash “the terror of the earth” on the source behind the comments if they are ever identified.
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