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Emily Thornberry accuses Sky's Murnaghan of 'sexism' Emily Thornberry accuses Sky's Murnaghan of 'sexism'
(35 minutes later)
The shadow foreign secretary has accused a TV interviewer of "sexism" after he asked her to name the French foreign minister.The shadow foreign secretary has accused a TV interviewer of "sexism" after he asked her to name the French foreign minister.
Emily Thornberry criticised Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan for "pub-quizzing" her as they discussed Brexit talks, saying it was "patronising".Emily Thornberry criticised Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan for "pub-quizzing" her as they discussed Brexit talks, saying it was "patronising".
The Labour MP declined to name French minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, adding: "Can we talk about some serious stuff?"The Labour MP declined to name French minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, adding: "Can we talk about some serious stuff?"
Mr Murnaghan said he had asked male politicians similar questions.Mr Murnaghan said he had asked male politicians similar questions.
He went on to refer to the time in 2011 when he asked the then shadow chancellor Alan Johnson about national insurance rates - a question the Labour MP was unable to answer.He went on to refer to the time in 2011 when he asked the then shadow chancellor Alan Johnson about national insurance rates - a question the Labour MP was unable to answer.
'Serious stuff''Serious stuff'
Ms Thornberry was asked if she had taken part in any Brexit talks with her would-be counterparts in Germany and France, and then if she knew the name of the French foreign minister.Ms Thornberry was asked if she had taken part in any Brexit talks with her would-be counterparts in Germany and France, and then if she knew the name of the French foreign minister.
"Don't start pub quizzing me, Dermot," she said."Don't start pub quizzing me, Dermot," she said.
"Don't start pub quizzing me.""Don't start pub quizzing me."
She was then asked again if she was able to name the minister.She was then asked again if she was able to name the minister.
Ms Thornberry said: "No and I'm not going to start answering your questions on this."Ms Thornberry said: "No and I'm not going to start answering your questions on this."
She added: "Do you know what, what really upsets me about your attitude to me is that you do this with me. I don't remember you doing it with anybody else you know.She added: "Do you know what, what really upsets me about your attitude to me is that you do this with me. I don't remember you doing it with anybody else you know.
"Have you done it to David Davis? Have you asked these questions? Do Sky journalists have a go at Boris Johnson on this basis? How about Liam Fox? Do you do pub quizzes with them?"Have you done it to David Davis? Have you asked these questions? Do Sky journalists have a go at Boris Johnson on this basis? How about Liam Fox? Do you do pub quizzes with them?
"I mean honestly. Can we talk about some serious stuff?""I mean honestly. Can we talk about some serious stuff?"
Ms Thornberry suggested that Mr Murnaghan should ask her questions about the situation in Syria or North Korea.Ms Thornberry suggested that Mr Murnaghan should ask her questions about the situation in Syria or North Korea.
'Patronising''Patronising'
Mr Murnaghan then asked her if she knew who the South Korean president was in relation to the recent news that North Korea had carried out a fifth nuclear blast.Mr Murnaghan then asked her if she knew who the South Korean president was in relation to the recent news that North Korea had carried out a fifth nuclear blast.
"If you want me to go with you to a pub tonight and we can do a pub quiz tonight, let's do it.""If you want me to go with you to a pub tonight and we can do a pub quiz tonight, let's do it."
She was then asked if knew the president's gender, she said: "I'm not getting drawn by you into this nonsense."She was then asked if knew the president's gender, she said: "I'm not getting drawn by you into this nonsense."
Mr Murnaghan went on to ask Ms Thornberry about anti-Semitism within the Labour Party.Mr Murnaghan went on to ask Ms Thornberry about anti-Semitism within the Labour Party.
She said Labour is committed to tackling the issue, as well as racism and sexism, whenever it occurs.She said Labour is committed to tackling the issue, as well as racism and sexism, whenever it occurs.
She said: "There is always more to be done and do you know what, there is certainly a lot more to be done by the Tories and I certainly think sometimes when it comes to sexism, some Sky presenters need to look at themselves too.She said: "There is always more to be done and do you know what, there is certainly a lot more to be done by the Tories and I certainly think sometimes when it comes to sexism, some Sky presenters need to look at themselves too.
"I really do. It really upsets me that every time I come on here, you do another pub quiz with me because you do not do it with anybody else and I do think that it's patronising.""I really do. It really upsets me that every time I come on here, you do another pub quiz with me because you do not do it with anybody else and I do think that it's patronising."
Mr Murnaghan replied: "It's not, because you are the shadow foreign secretary and this was about the French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault who Boris Johnson has met now several times."Mr Murnaghan replied: "It's not, because you are the shadow foreign secretary and this was about the French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault who Boris Johnson has met now several times."
Twitter reacts
Ms Thornberry said she wanted to "take this offline because I have got a lot to say to you and I don't think a lot of it ought to be broadcast".Ms Thornberry said she wanted to "take this offline because I have got a lot to say to you and I don't think a lot of it ought to be broadcast".
Her interview has sparked a wave of debate online. The interview has sparked a wave of debate online.
Isabel Hardman, the assistant editor of The Spectator, tweeted: "Hum. Never realised I could just use "sexism" as a cover-all excuse for not doing my homework."Isabel Hardman, the assistant editor of The Spectator, tweeted: "Hum. Never realised I could just use "sexism" as a cover-all excuse for not doing my homework."
She later tweeted: "Seriously, though, sexism is still so rife and serious. This kind of thing trivialises it and makes it harder to fight."She later tweeted: "Seriously, though, sexism is still so rife and serious. This kind of thing trivialises it and makes it harder to fight."
Matt Chorley of the Times newspaper tweeted: "It would have been sexist if Murnaghan had asked Thornberry about Bake Off. Or her hairdresser. Not who she might talk to in government."Matt Chorley of the Times newspaper tweeted: "It would have been sexist if Murnaghan had asked Thornberry about Bake Off. Or her hairdresser. Not who she might talk to in government."
Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson tweeted: "Plenty of genuine sexism & misogyny in politics. Don't need prominent women debasing the term to cover their own poor performance. Jeez."Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson tweeted: "Plenty of genuine sexism & misogyny in politics. Don't need prominent women debasing the term to cover their own poor performance. Jeez."
But the Labour MP Paul Flynn came to Ms Thornberry's defence and tweeted: "Possibility of nuclear war is a issue of vital importance that should not be trivialised by Murnaghan's cheap smart-aleck pub-quiz question."But the Labour MP Paul Flynn came to Ms Thornberry's defence and tweeted: "Possibility of nuclear war is a issue of vital importance that should not be trivialised by Murnaghan's cheap smart-aleck pub-quiz question."
He later added: "Murnaghan repeats cheap trick to grab a headline for himself and his failing show by diverting attention from issue of mega-importance."He later added: "Murnaghan repeats cheap trick to grab a headline for himself and his failing show by diverting attention from issue of mega-importance."