Kemi Badenoch rejected criticism of a political attack on Rachel Reeves in which she derided the Chancellor for complaining about ‘mansplaining and misogyny’.
The Tory leader used her response to Wednesday’s Budget to reference an interview Ms Reeves did last week, in which she said she was tired of people ‘mansplaining’ how to be Chancellor to her, because she was the first person to fill the role.
Mrs Badenoch criticised ‘puff pieces’ that she said show ‘a woman wallowing in self-pity, whining about mansplaining and misogyny’.
In a fiery performance at the despatch box she said: ‘Let me explain to the Chancellor, woman to woman. People out there aren’t complaining because she’s female, they’re complaining because she is utterly incompetent.’
Later, as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Reeves exchanged words on the front bench, the Tory leader asked: ‘Is he mansplaining to you, by the way? Do you need help?’
Asked if she regretted her language Mrs Badenoch told ITV Anglia last night: ‘Not in the least.
‘She gave the most political Budget ever, lots of attacks … she likes to dish it but she can’t take it.
Asked if she regretted her language Mrs Badenoch told ITV Anglia last night: ‘Not in the least.
The Tory leader used her response to Wednesday’s Budget to reference an interview Ms Reeves did last week , in which she said she was tired of people ‘mansplaining’ how to be Chancellor to her, because she was the first person to fill the role.
‘I thought it was extraordinary that she was complaining about mansplaining and misogyny.’
Accusing Labour of liking ‘rough-and-tumble politics’ when it suited them, she added: ‘I don’t see why Labour MPs should be asking for a free pass for the Chancellor, they didn’t give Theresa May a free pass, they didn’t give Margaret Thatcher a free pass, they didn’t give Liz Truss a free pass.’
In a second interview, with the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast, she again insisted she had been right to hit out.
‘You can’t please everybody,’ Mrs Badenoch said.
‘I’ve taken on a tough job and I’ve got to do it the way anybody else has to.
‘I don’t complain about it, I don’t say it’s misogyny or racism or anything like that.’