A SOUTHAMPTON MP has come under fire after describing a female journalist as "almost hysterical".

Royston Smith took to social media after Boris Johnson was questioned about an unnamed Tory MP who is facing allegations of rape and sexual assault.

Mr Johnson was leaving 10 Downing Street when the journalist shouted a question from across the road.

She asked: "Are you doing anything to deal with your party's toxic culture, prime minister?"

After footage of Mr Johnson failing to respond was shown on ITV, Mr Smith tweeted: "They call this news. She's almost hysterical."

But other people have taken to social media to criticise the remark made by the Tory MP for Southampton Itchen.

One person posted: "You call this a response to reassure the public that you, our elected representatives, are taking your public office seriously?

"We should all be hysterical if this is the level of respect the populous gets from its politicians."

Another added: "After partygate, after about five Tories MPs resigning or being arrested, after the refurbishment flat scandal, after Sunak's wife's taxes and Patel and Hancock not being sacked, I think it's a very legitimate question which many would like to ask.

"Sadly there is always no answer."

Southampton and District Green Party also criticised the remark, branding it "absolutely disgraceful and misogynistic".

Mr Smith told the Daily Echo: " I see this all the time. It happened to me last week as I was walking into Downing Street.

"This particular journalist - irrelevant that she’s a woman - was almost screaming. But why? No one is responding to that.

"It’s just clickbait journalism, which isn’t journalism at all."

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