Yorkshire MP accuses Chancellor of '˜sexism'

The Chancellors comments came in response to a question from Mary Creagh, in which she pointed out 100,000 UK businesses have registered in the Republic of Ireland in response to the uncertainty of Brexit.

In his reply, Mr Hammond urged the Wakefield MP “not to be hysterical about these things” as he stated the Government is keen offer certainty “as soon as possible”.

This met with expressions of disbelief from the opposition benches, and a clearly outraged Ms Creagh went on to raise the issue with the Speaker of the House John Bercow.

“That sort of language would not have been used had I been a man,” she argued. “My question on the registration of companies in Ireland had nothing to do with the condition of my womb travelling to my head, as in the traditional rhetoric about hysterics.

“I expect that sort of language from the sketch writers of the Daily Mail, not from the Chancellor of the Exchequer.”

Mr Hammond apologised “for any offence” caused before withdrawing his comments “unreservedly”.