Journalist Petronella Wyatt left Channel 5 viewers outraged on Wednesday night after she claimed that women wearing short skirts in Westminster were sending out a āsignalā to colleagues.
Her comments, made on the channelās #MeToo: The Debate, came weeks after claims of sexual harassment rocked parliament.
Wyatt said that she has seen female researchers in Parliament ārunning around in micro-miniskirts getting paralytically drunkā.
When asked why it matters what these women are wearing, she retorted: āBecause what kind of signal do you think that sends out?ā
She added: āWhen I wear a micro-mini skirt itās because I want to show off my figure.ā
Wyatt, the former deputy editor of the Spectator, said that it was āunprofessional to turn up in the workplace looking as if youāre going to the beachā.
The televised debate was aired following the Channel 5 documentary Raped: My story.
Some condemned Wyattās comments, especially in the wake of programme, which included personal accounts of sexual assault.
Many pointed out how contentious her views were, with some calling her an āembarrassmentā to her sex.
It is not the first time Wyatt has come under fire for her controversial views on sexual harassment.
Earlier this month she revealed she was āflatteredā by men groping her when she worked in Westminster in the 1990s.
During a heated exchange on Radio 4ā²s Today programme, she said: āThere were a couple of men that were a bit gropey. But do you know what? I was flattered.ā
Sexual harassment has been in the limelight in recent weeks following a spate of allegations, not just in the political arena, but in Hollywood and other industries.
Among those accused of sexual harassment in Westminster was former defence minister Michael Fallon, who resigned from his post after admitting that his behaviour had āfallen shortā in the past.