Prime Minister’s Questions fell on International Women’s Day, so it was inevitable that Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn would exchange humblebrags on which party had done more for women.
Corbyn, wearing a purple tie symbolic of the suffragettes, got off to a strong start by boasting that Labour has more women MPs than all the other parties combined.
Let's celebrate women's political achievements.@UKLabour has more women MPs than all other parties combined#IWD2017 #PMQs
— Gill Furniss MP (@GillFurnissMP) March 8, 2017
Jeremy Corbyn says he's proud Labour has more women MPs than all other parties combined & Shadow Cabinet w/ more than half women #pmqs #IWD
— Sophy Ridge (@SophyRidgeSky) March 8, 2017
But May hit back with a reference to the recent Copeland election, pointing out that a Labour male MP was replaced by a female Conservative MP.
Tory benches loving May's #IWD2017/Copeland quip at #pmqs pic.twitter.com/TJHnoXPCH7
— Asa Bennett (@asabenn) March 8, 2017
Strike 1 to the PM #Copeland #pmqs
— @Parlez_me_nTory (@Parlez_me_nTory) March 8, 2017
People also thought it was a bit of a misjudged argument for Labour to make.
Corbyn pointing out how many women are in Labour is laughable when addressing the SECOND FEMALE TORY PRIME MINISTER! #PMQs
— Knighted Sir Beckham (@Knight_Beckham) March 8, 2017
Labour might have more women MPs but they are still failing to be an opposition, gender irrespective #pmqs
— Kelly-Marie Blundell (@KellyMarieLD) March 8, 2017
And they weren’t so keen on the opposition’s front bench seating plan.
Watch #pmqs a lot, and I’ve never seen some of the women on the opposition front bench. Will they be there next week?
— Chris (@allriffnoraff) March 8, 2017
Jeremy Corbyn surrounding himself with women at #PMQs on #InternationalWomensDay feels a tad tokenistic to me
— Fay Jones (@JonesyFay) March 8, 2017
