British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn was accused of being a sexist and a misogynist and faced calls on Wednesday to apologise for apparently calling embattled Prime Minister Theresa May a "stupid woman" as they clashed in Parliament over her controversial Brexit deal.
The incident happened days after European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he did not personally insult Prime Minister May by calling her "nebulous" after footage emerged of a fiery clash between him and her in Brussels over a supposed jibe.
The May-Corbyn clash took place during the Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons over her Brexit deal, calling her decision last week to delay a vote on it a "deeply cynical manoeuvre" from a "failing" prime minister.
May, 62, hit back at Corbyn, 69, saying he had not tabled his promised no-confidence motion, and had then tabled one that was ineffective.
"I know it's the... pantomime season," she told MPs, "is he going to put a confidence vote? Oh yes he is," she said, prompting backbench Tories MPs to chant "oh no he isn't".
Continuing the pantomime theme, she told the Labour leader "look behind you - they are not impressed and neither is the country".
Corbyn could be seen saying something under his breath in response.
Former minister Patrick McLoughlin used a point of order to accuse Corbyn of having "muttered" that May was a "stupid woman".
Conservative MPs called on Corbyn to be ordered to apologise.
Speaker John Bercow said he had not seen the alleged incident and so could not "immediately" rule on it.
A spokesman for Corbyn said: "He did not call her a stupid woman and so I don't think there's any basis for an apology. As I understand it, he said 'stupid people'."
Asked about lip readers saying that Corbyn had said "stupid woman", he added: "Lip reading is open to doubt - he is adamant he didn't say it."
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