Boris Johnson accused of ‘homophobia’ after appearing to call Jeremy Corbyn a ‘big girl’s blouse’
Boris Johnson branded Jeremy Corbyn a ‘big girl’s blouse’
Boris Johnson was seemingly caught on camera during his first prime minister’s questions appearing to refer to opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn as a “big girl’s blouse”.
The prime minister was filmed heckling Corbyn during an exchange in Parliament on Wednesday, August 4, after the Labour leader refused to commit to holding a snap election.
Boris Johnson lobs ‘big girl’s blouse’ insult at Jeremy Corbyn.
In the clip, Johnson appears to yell out: “Call an election, you great big girl’s blouse.”
I'm no lip reader, but is this: 'Call an election, you great big girls blouse'? pic.twitter.com/9eyBNuzcuA
— Ned Simons (@nedsimons) September 4, 2019
The footage was seized upon by people on Twitter, who attacked the Conservative leader for perceived homophobia and sexism.
One Twitter user shot back: “If Boris is going to be homophobic can he not do better than big girl’s blouse? I look great in a blouse you mop haired melted adult milky bar kid.”
Another person wrote: “No surprise that Boris Johnson uses genuinely *ancient* misogynistic insults such as ‘big girl’s blouse’.”
might not be the most pressing point here, but i'd say this is more homophobic than straight-up sexist. any gay man who's had something like this said to them knows *exactly* the context it's used in and *exactly* what it's a euphemism for https://t.co/hy9j4ygauI— Louis Staples (@LouisStaples) September 4, 2019
Although some users branded the remarks misogynistic, one commentator wrote: “I’d say this is more homophobic than straight-up sexist. any gay man who’s had something like this said to them knows *exactly* the context it’s used in and *exactly* what it’s a euphemism for.”
One respondent added: “Our Prime Minister, sitting in the House of Commons and using openly homophobic language towards Corbyn, calling him a big girl’s blouse… get him the f**k out.”
Prime minister has never apologised for anti-LGBT slurs.
Johnson has a mixed record on LGBT+ rights and a long history of anti-LGBT slurs.
In July, he ignored a call from his own party’s LGBT+ group for an apology for referring to gay people as “tank-topped bum boys”and attacking “Labour’s appalling agenda, encouraging the teaching of homosexuality in schools”.
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Daniel Leal-Olivas-WPA Pool/Getty)
Colm Howard-Lloyd, chairman of LGBT+ Conservatives, said: “As a journalist he used some distinctly hurtful and unhelpful language, and that has dented the confidence of many in the LGBT community. I expect him to address that at an early opportunity.”
During his leadership campaign, Johnson was challenged over the quotes on multiple occasions, but has declined to apologise.
The Conservative politician said: “If you’re going to excavate and disinter every single quotation from the millions of words I have written, you can of course try and twist things one way or another but I have a very proud record.”
