'Get back in your box, woman’: Sexism row as Tory Perry clashes with Labour’s McDonnell
SPARKS flew when Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell shared a TV studio with Tory Energy Minister Claire Perry after election polls closed last night – with the two clashing in heated exchanges as she accused him of gestures telling her to “get back in your box woman”.
Labour's John McDonnell CLASHES with Tory MP Claire Perry
That is completely unacceptable in a programme like this
The pair were sat next to one another during the BBC’s Local Election 2018 coverage.
And they squared off in spectacular style after Ms Perry demanded Mr McDonnell apologise to Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey for an anecdote told at a public meeting earlier this year which mentioned her being “lynched”.
With host Huw Edwards struggling to interject, the two continued to talk over one another until Devizes MP Ms Perry eventually said: “Look at this hand gesture: get back in your box, woman.”
Visibly stung by her remarks, MP for Hayes and Harlington Mr McDonnell hit back, saying: "That is completely unacceptable in a programme like this."
Claire Perry and John McDonnell clash on the BBC
Stressing that the campaign was over, he suggested that “usually on a programme like this” contributor would discuss the events of the last few weeks “a bit more objectively”.
The pair were at each other’s throats right from the start of the coverage, with Ms Perry accusing Mr McDonnell of “rowing back” on remarks suggesting his party was poised to take control of Westminster and Wandsworth.
She said: "There is so much rowing back from John and Sadiq tonight you should enter a crew into the boat race next year. You’d do brilliantly."
She also snapped at him when he attempted to respond to her remarks, saying: “Would you like to carry on or would you like me to continue?”
The row was triggered by a comment made by Mr McDonnell related to minister Esther McVey
Mr McDonnell insisted: "We never said it would be a wipe-out. We said we wanted steady gains. I think that’s what we are getting."
The exchanges prompted a mixed response on social media.
The Labour man was not without his critics, with one contributor saying: “McDonnell is completely inept and delusional, just like Jez, Abbott and Thornberry.
“Does anyone really think think this bunch could run the country effectively and keep us safe?”
Local elections 2018: Claire Perry accuses John McDonnell of 'failing' https://t.co/Pan9LvKpVM
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) May 4, 2018
Another added: “Well the people's chancellor just got served! Well done to that minister for finally shutting him up!”
However, not everybody was impressed by Ms Perry’s behaviour either.
One tweeted: "She’s a vile individual who tried to play the sexism card and failed miserably."
Another wrote: "I'm no fan of John McDonnell but that odious harpie Claire Perry was vile and obnoxious.
"Huw should have told her to shut up."