Jeremy Corbyn’s “Stupid Woman”

“Stupid woman”, Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, appeared to mutter under his breath yesterday in response to Theresa May at Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons.

Well, so what? One might think. A bit rude, sure — but tempers are bound to be raging in the Commons with less than one hundred days till Brexit.

But then again, this is modern-day Britain, where anyone who uses a derogatory adjective (e.g. “stupid”) in front of a protected characteristic (e.g. “woman”) is in for a rude awokening.

Such a statement may even count as a “hate incident” (one short step away from a dreaded “hate crime”)! The Labour Party are fully committed to fighting hate, as Corbyn has previously signaled:

Judged by his own standards, therefore, Corbyn’s remark caused a considerable uproar in the Commons and the liberal media. This was partly hammed up by the Tories, I’m sure. It provided a rare moment for the prime minister to get some sympathy and divert criticism that’s usually directed at her. She stated that “I think that everybody in this house, particularly in this 100th anniversary of women getting the vote, should be aiming to encourage women to come into this chamber.”

Hear, hear!

Rather than apologize, however, Corbyn strangely decided to deny saying “stupid woman”. (Strange if you’ve watched the clip a few times.) He addressed the Commons, “Mr. Speaker, 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.”

Few were convinced by this, however. As Piers Morgan tweeted:

Corbyn is not the only Labour party member who seems to believe himself above reality. Last week, the Labour MP and solicitor, Fiona Onasanya, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice after she lied to the police about a speeding ticket. As a consequence, she was suspended and urged to resign by her own party.

However, in a WhatsApp message to fellow Labour members, leaked to the Times, Onasanya wrote, “Regardless of what you believe or suspect, the fact remains that I Fiona, sought to be the choice and voice of change – but this may now take a different path.”

Onasanya then compared herself to Jesus, who, she points out was also “accused and convicted by the courts of his day and this was not his end but rather the beginning of the next chapter in his story.”

To continue Onasanya’s biblical theme, however, the Gospel of Luke states: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”

Under Corbyn’s leadership, the Labour party continues itself just as chaotic, fractured, delusional, disorganized, and dishonest as the Tory party. Which is quite an achievement.