Huddersfield’s MP Barry Sheerman has denied making a sexist remark after labelling Employment Minister Esther McVey a “hard hearted Hannah” during Commons questions.
Mr Sheerman made the remark as he quizzed the minister about getting disabled people into work, urging her to show more compassion.
Ms McVey claimed it was the latest in a line of sexist remarks from Labour MPs.
In his question, Mr Sheerman said: “Are you aware one of the greatest disabilities that stop young people getting a job is autism. Are you aware autism is predicted to cost this country £32 billion a year?
“Will you stop for a moment being the hard hearted Hannah of the front bench and be a bit a more compassionate about disabled young people looking for work?”
Amid heated exchanges on points of order, Mr Sheerman later defended the phrase as “fair comment” because of the minister’s “hard” advocating of Government welfare reforms.
He also took to Twitter to defend his use of the phrase and said he was “disappointed” at Ms McVey’s response to his comments.
At the end of the session, Mr Sheerman raised a point of order, telling MPs: “I have been, I think, known to be a long term champion of the equality of women in our society and at work.
“In questions just a few moments ago, I did refer to Ms McVey as hard hearted Hannah.
“I think she thinks that was a sexist remark, it wasn’t meant as that, it is actually a name of a famous song sung by Ella Fitzgerald.
“But she has a reputation for being a very hard champion of the welfare reforms this Government has introduced and I believe it was fair comment and unfair to call me a sexist.”
