Owen Smith Accused Of Wanting Women To Be 'Seen But Not Heard' After Joke About Nicola Sturgeon

The Labour leadership candidate made a Twitter gag about gobstoppers
Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Owen Smith has been accused of wanting women to be “seen but not heard” - after an old tweet of the Labour leadership candidate resurfaced.

Back in April, before he jumped into the Labour leadership election, Smith tweeted this joke about Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Perfect 'slice' served up by ladies of the Ritz, Millport. They've got the perfect present for @NicolaSturgeon too.. pic.twitter.com/Db8SsYwoYo

— Owen Smith (@OwenSmith_MP) April 10, 2016

Smith later said the tweet was “a wee joke, of course”.

An SNP spokesman told The Huffington Post today: “Owen Smith is developing a habit of putting his foot in his mouth when it comes to female politicians – and the suggestion that women should be seen but not heard is one that should be well and truly consigned to the dustbin of history.”

In June, Smith was criticised for saying he wants to “smash” Theresa May “back on her heels”. The former shadow work and pensions secretary later admitted his use of language may have “backfired” and apologised.

Jeremy Corbyn has also been accused of not doing enough to tackle sexism. Smith yesterday told Pink News the Labour leader had “been complacent about misogyny, anti-Semitic and homophobic abuse”.

“I don’t think he’s been speaking out against those things and doing something about them. It’s not enough to ignore it, you’ve got to address it,” he said.

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