In this week’s debate on the Rwanda Bill, North Somerset MP Liam Fox described a speech made by SNP MP Alison Thewliss as “hysterical”, provoking MPs to call him out as a misogynist.

Fox responded to Thewliss’ expression of concern for the human rights of asylum seekers with “she has had her hysterical say. I will have mine.” Fleur Anderson, the Labour MP for Putney, later condemned his “classic call out of [a] misogynistic term” as shocking. The Independent, The Evening Standard, The Daily Mail, and The National newspapers have since reported on his offensive language.

The word hysteria has long been used, medically and socially, to deride women and label them irrational, unstable, and therefore not suited to public life. As someone who once worked as a doctor, Liam Fox is likely to be fully aware of these negative connotations associated with accusations of hysteria.

North Somerset Labour Party is dismayed that the Member of Parliament for North Somerset should use such terms in the House of Commons and we hope that he will reflect on his use of such tropes, and apologise.

Adele Gardner, North Somerset Labour Party’s Women’s Officer, said “it is vital that women are encouraged to enter public life and in doing so they should expect to have their voices heard, and have male members of Parliament show them respect. The use of such language by Dr Fox illustrates just how difficult public life can be for women, which is why it needs to be called out.”

Cllr Gardner added that “women in North Somerset need an MP who will show through their words and deeds that they areproud to represent them. Women play a vital role in society and make a huge contribution to the world in which we live. At a time when the cost of living is soaring, health and social care sectors are struggling, and a lack of affordable homes is a stark reality within North Somerset, we need an MP who will find ways of amplifying women’s voices, not one who uses misogynistic tropes in the hope this might silence them.”

In 2016, Liam Fox voted against publication of a gender equality strategy to improve the position of women and against ensuring women and protected groups are not disproportionately impacted by tax and benefit changes.