Mhairi Black, an SNP MP, has described the misogynistic and homophobic abuse directed at her online as she repeated insults aimed at her which included the C-word.
The Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP said she felt uncomfortable recalling the graphic abuse but warned some people felt “comfortable flinging these words around every day”.
Her comments came during a Westminster Hall debate on Wednesday in which a number of MPs spoke out about the need to class misogyny as a hate crime.
The SNP MP detailed how she is regularly called a “wee boy”, adding: “I struggle to see any joke in being systematically called a dyke, a rug muncher, a slut, a whore, a scruffy bint. I’ve been told you can’t put lipstick on a pig, let the dirty bitch each shit and die.”
“I could soften some of this by talking about the C-word but the reality is there is no softening when you’re targeted with these words and you’re left reading them on my screen every day, day in, day out – she needs to kick the c***, guttural c***, ugly c***, wee animal c*** - there is no softening just how sexualised and misogynistic the abuse is.”
Ms Black added: “I've been assured multiple times that I don't have to worry because I am so ugly that no-one would want to rape me. All of these insults have been tailored to me because I am a woman.”
The MP also said there needs to be reflection on what happens in Parliament, with the “full extent of abuse and danger” women face on a daily basis only beginning to be realised.
Ms Black said: “Only a few weeks ago I was physically pressed up against a Member (of Parliament) in the voting lobby who is accused of sexual misconduct because there's so little room.
“Now, I don't think that's normal and I think it's fair to say that's something maybe that we should be looking at - something we should be talking about - because I'm blessed in that I have the same right and influence as any other elected man in this place, but what about all the female staff in here who don't?”
