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Lady Nugee accuses Sky News of sexism… for asking her to name French foreign minister

Oh dear. It’s fair to say that Emily Thornberry’s appearance on Sky News this morning did not go to plan. The shadow Foreign Secretary — and shadow Brexit Secretary — appeared on Murnaghan to discuss Labour’s stance on Brexit.

Discussing her brief, Thornberry — who is married to Sir Christopher Nugee — slammed the government’s Brexit efforts while bigging up her own work telling officials in Brussels that there are still reasonable people in Britain. So, just who has Lady Nugee been speaking to? While it remains unclear, what is clear is that France’s foreign minister is not on that list. When Dermot Murnaghan asked her if she was in touch with Jean-Marc Ayrault, he received a curious response:

DM: I mean, have you called the French foreign secretary for instance?

ET: No, but we’re in the process of arranging for me to go to France and Germany

DM: Do you know who he is?

ET: Don’t start pub quizzing me, Dermot.

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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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