Minister accused of sexism for attack on Brighton MP

12:20pm Friday 20th January 2012 in News

A Government minister has sparked a sexism row after branding Green MP Caroline Lucas “hysterical” in a debate over forests.

The member for Brighton Pavilion was asking Agriculture Minister Jim Paice for an update on the coalition's aborted forestry sell-off.

The Government performed a U-turn on its original plan to sell off woodland last year following a public backlash, although doubts remain over 15 per cent of the state’s forests.

Speaking during environment, food and rural affairs questions at Westminster yesterday, Ms Lucas said the Government was “deeply misguided” in its approach and called for an assurance none of the estate would be sold.

Mr Paice said Ms Lucas “always gets a bit hysterical”. He said the Government had no intention of selling off the public forest estate.

Next to quiz Mr Paice was Fiona O'Donnell, Labour’s shadow Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister, who said: “I hope he can have a less sexist response this time.”

Labour’s former cabinet minister Ben Bradshaw then tweeted: “Sexism alive and well in the Tory Party as Farming Minister calls Green MP Caroline Lucas ‘always hysterical’ at DEFRA questions.”

Last year David Cameron was criticised after urging Labour frontbencher Angela Eagle to “calm down, dear” during Prime Minister's questions.

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Comments(22)

gmgc81 says...
12:53pm Fri 20 Jan 12

No surprise hearing YET another Tory making a nasty remark to a politician who they don't agree with. It's funny how you mention Cameron's sexist remark last year. Our "beloved" PM called Labour veteran MP Dennis Skinner a dinosaur the other day when Mr. Skinner asked him a civil question during PMQs.

If there is a "Stop Bullying" campaign, don't use a Tory. They're the worse bullies of them all!

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Roundbill says...
1:12pm Fri 20 Jan 12

"Tory front-bencher is chauvanist idiot."
Stay tuned folks - coming up next, bear spotted defecating in the woods. Now here's Bob with the weather.

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cancelaccount says...
1:20pm Fri 20 Jan 12

oh Ms Lucas you're at it again! Trying every avenue to get your name in the news. In an effort to remind people you exist.
can some one please tell me when the word 'Hysterical' became a sexist term?
as the OED says Hys-te-ria
1. of or suggesting hysteria hysterical cries
2. (Psychiatry) suffering from hysteria
3. Informal wildly funny

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jools99 says...
1:28pm Fri 20 Jan 12

Neither of these comments is sexist. After all, a man can be "hysterical" and a woman can act in such a way so as to be accused of being a "dinosaur".

Yet another non-story.

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Andy R says...
1:29pm Fri 20 Jan 12

cancelaccount wrote:
oh Ms Lucas you're at it again! Trying every avenue to get your name in the news. In an effort to remind people you exist. can some one please tell me when the word 'Hysterical' became a sexist term? as the OED says Hys-te-ria 1. of or suggesting hysteria hysterical cries 2. (Psychiatry) suffering from hysteria 3. Informal wildly funny
Ha ha...somehow it's all Caroline Lucas' fault! Sometimes comments here just go waaay beyond satire....

I'm surprised Paice didn't add (with suitably clipped vowels) "Calm down young lady or I shall have to strike you".

And these people call OTHER people "dinosaurs"......?

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cancelaccount says...
1:36pm Fri 20 Jan 12

hahahahaha - you seem to forget the point being made. Hysteria is not a generic sexist term or phrase or word. so calm down and dont get your PC knickers in a twist!now that could be deemed a sexist comment, so I apologise, before you quip in return.

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RAS Putin says...
1:45pm Fri 20 Jan 12

cancelaccount wrote:
hahahahaha - you seem to forget the point being made. Hysteria is not a generic sexist term or phrase or word. so calm down and dont get your PC knickers in a twist!now that could be deemed a sexist comment, so I apologise, before you quip in return.
My OED - the two volume edition - says, inter alia; "A syndrome (formerly regarded as a disease peculiar to women)...f. hustera; uterus... "

Surely our beloved leaders would not be so unaware of basic etymology?

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cancelaccount says...
1:48pm Fri 20 Jan 12

Pedants!

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Charismatic Andrew says...
1:53pm Fri 20 Jan 12

cancelaccount wrote:
oh Ms Lucas you're at it again! Trying every avenue to get your name in the news. In an effort to remind people you exist. can some one please tell me when the word 'Hysterical' became a sexist term? as the OED says Hys-te-ria 1. of or suggesting hysteria hysterical cries 2. (Psychiatry) suffering from hysteria 3. Informal wildly funny
Easy tiger. All Ms Lucas did was ask a question in parliament, which I think you'll find is part of her job. No where in the article does it claim she called anyone sexist.

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cancelaccount says...
2:00pm Fri 20 Jan 12

GRRRRRRRRRRowl....

well Iama tiger according to self appraising andrew!

I think you'llfind the titleof the piece is- Minister accused of sexism for attack on Brighton MP (From The Argus)..

over and out! or grrrrrrrrr

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Fight Back says...
2:03pm Fri 20 Jan 12

Charismatic Andrew wrote:
cancelaccount wrote:
oh Ms Lucas you're at it again! Trying every avenue to get your name in the news. In an effort to remind people you exist. can some one please tell me when the word 'Hysterical' became a sexist term? as the OED says Hys-te-ria 1. of or suggesting hysteria hysterical cries 2. (Psychiatry) suffering from hysteria 3. Informal wildly funny
Easy tiger. All Ms Lucas did was ask a question in parliament, which I think you'll find is part of her job. No where in the article does it claim she called anyone sexist.
Indeed. It was two Labour MPs who used the term "sexist". I would suggest they concentrate on coming up with some decent policies and replacing their leader rather than make out something is sexist when it clearly isn't.

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purplepants says...
2:04pm Fri 20 Jan 12

Cancelaccount - yes, a minster was accused of being sexist, but not by Caroline Lucas. She was the VICTIM of the sexist attack. Please try harder next time you go trolling - try reading the article. It isn't long, and you've got a dictionary if you get stuck on any of the longer words.

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cancelaccount says...
2:09pm Fri 20 Jan 12

I think thee is getting purple as you are taking this a bit too seriously! and before using such a word as VICTIM (why capitalised?) read ones remarks/comments and see that I may be responding rather tongue in cheekily..my gosh, lighten up! and I dont mean sit back and have a chug on a cigarette!

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Bubs says...
2:27pm Fri 20 Jan 12

Politicians need thicker skin than that to get by in their day to day life. How come everyone is getting offended by everything at the moment? If only "Getting Offended" was an Olympic sport...

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Dingdong123 says...
3:24pm Fri 20 Jan 12

The word hysterical is a word i wouldnt use,the phrase 'a waste of taxpayers money' i believe is more suitable,especially kitkat!!!!

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GovindaTim says...
3:30pm Fri 20 Jan 12

cancelaccount wrote:
I think thee is getting purple as you are taking this a bit too seriously! and before using such a word as VICTIM (why capitalised?) read ones remarks/comments and see that I may be responding rather tongue in cheekily..my gosh, lighten up! and I dont mean sit back and have a chug on a cigarette!
Best example I've yet seen of someone hastily backtracking. Tongue in cheek?? Or do you mean foot in mouth!!!

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AmraNag says...
4:31pm Fri 20 Jan 12

Ms. Lucas is one of the few politicians who is in it for the right reasons. She works hard for the woman and man on the street. You and me.

'Hysterical' is a term most often used to describe women rather than men. It suggests that women are unable to control their emotions. It is offensive.

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cancelaccount says...
4:32pm Fri 20 Jan 12

Ha ha ha ha - do you think that a prson reallycares about what is said here? I don't. It is pitfulland sad that you make such comments. backtracking I see no backtracking at all, you idiot! Go vinderTim Go!

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Cyril Bolleaux says...
5:26pm Fri 20 Jan 12

I find Caroline Lucas offensive. She must apologise and resign.

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george smith says...
6:38pm Fri 20 Jan 12

Am I able to say that she wasn't very good on question time, Greer was much better, even the Tory was better

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GovindaTim says...
6:39pm Fri 20 Jan 12

cancelaccount wrote:
Ha ha ha ha - do you think that a prson reallycares about what is said here? I don't. It is pitfulland sad that you make such comments. backtracking I see no backtracking at all, you idiot! Go vinderTim Go!
You seem to care enough to keep posting on here. Gosh, lighten up, and I don't mean sit back and chug on a cigarette. (to quote a fellow idiot!!)

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Morpheus says...
7:02pm Fri 20 Jan 12

She did at least raise the issue of no tax on airline fuel when she appeared on Question Time. This distorts the air travel market, just as subsidies for the railways and excessive tax on motoring do. It is time we knew the true cost to us of all forms of travel without government interference.

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