THE MP for South Swindon has criticised a story which claimed Labour's deputy leader used a 'Basic Instinct'-style ploy to distract the prime minister during Parliament debates.

The article, published today (April 24) in the Mail on Sunday, claims Angela Rayner crosses and uncrosses her legs while sat opposite Boris Johnson at the House of Commons to put him off during Prime Minister's Questions.

The tabloid's political editor Glen Owen writes that unnamed Conservatives "mischievously suggested" to him that the MP for Ashton-under-Lyne mimics Sharon Stone's scene in the 1992 thriller Basic Instinct because, according to one anonymous Tory, she "can't compete with Boris' Oxford Union debating training".

The story has been heavily criticised by MPs across the political spectrum - and by the PM himself, who said: "As much as I disagree with Angela Rayner MP  on almost every political issue, I respect her as a parliamentarian and deplore the misogyny directed at her anonymously today."

Sir Robert Buckland tweeted his criticism of the article on Sunday: "I don’t think the Angela Rayner “story” in a Sunday newspaper could have been acceptable in 1922, let alone 2022. Appalling."

Other MPs also criticised the article. Former Commons leader Andrea Leadsom said she agreed with Ms Rayner’s assessment that she had been targeted for being a woman.

“Really sorry Angela. Totally unacceptable comments,” the Tory MP tweeted.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted: “If an MP or MPs really said this then it’s utterly shameful.

“No woman in politics should have to put up with this.”

The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the sexism displayed by those briefing the Sunday paper was a “disgraceful new low from a party mired in scandal and chaos”.

Meanwhile, Angela Rayner responded: "Boris Johnson’s cheerleaders have resorted to spreading desperate, perverted smears in their doomed attempts to save his skin. They know exactly what they are doing. The lies they are telling.

"But it is the PM who is dragging the Conservative Party into the sewer - and the anonymous Tory MPs doing his bidding are complicit. They should be ashamed of themselves."

Read her full response below: