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Watch: Bercow blasts Boris’s ‘sexism’ over Lady Nugee jibe

John Bercow has been keeping a somewhat low profile of late, since bullying allegations were levelled against him. But now the Speaker has chucked himself firmly back into the spotlight with a spot of virtue-signalling in the Commons – by calling Boris Johnson ‘sexist’. Bercow took Boris to task after he referred to the shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, as Lady Nugee (the name she is entitled to as the wife of the High Court judge Sir Christopher Nugee) telling him:

‘The shadow foreign secretary has a name and it is not ‘Lady something’, we know what her name is. It is inappropriate and frankly sexist to speak in those terms. I am not having it in this chamber.’

Although Johnson went on to apologise for any offence cause, Mr S doubts the Conservatives will change their tune anytime soon. The Tories have long seen as it as a way to highlight Thornberry’s Islington brand of socialism.

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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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