MP Cat Smith hits out at Osborne over freezer comments

George Osborne's reported comments about Theresa May have not helped efforts to deal with Britain's problem with violence against women, according to Fleetwood MP Cat Smith.
Shadow deputy Commons leader Cat SmithShadow deputy Commons leader Cat Smith
Shadow deputy Commons leader Cat Smith

A profile of the former chancellor-turned-editor reported him as saying he will not rest until the Prime Minister is “chopped up in bags in my freezer”.

Shadow deputy Commons leader Cat Smith referenced the Esquire piece as she criticised Mr Osborne during a parliamentary debate focused on the abuse and intimidation of politicians and the public during the general election campaign.

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Ms Smith told the Commons: “Bullying and intimidation that we see on social media and on the streets of this country doesn’t happen in a vacuum.

“The decisions taken by press and media outlets, even political parties, to target some politicians over others can lead to some trolls seeing this as permission to take their racist and sexist abuse offline and, in some case sadly, acting out on it.

“Only this week the former chancellor told colleagues at the Evening Standard that he will not rest until the Prime Minister is, and I quote, ‘chopped up in bags in my freezer’.

“He has previously described the Prime Minister as a dead woman walking who is on death row, and compared the Prime Minister to the living dead in a second-rate horror film.

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“The reason that I raise this is because violence against women is a huge problem in this country.”

Conservative former minister Sir Hugo Swiresaid: “I just wonder if it is in order for (Ms Smith) to make unfounded allegations against a former member of this House, who is not here and without any warning?”