ANYONE who brands Southampton Labour Councillor Perry McMillan sexist had better think again.

In the heat of the moment, he may have shouted "stupid woman" at the minutes secretary Anne Wardle during a turbulent meeting of the city's Labour Party, as reported in the Daily Echo earlier this week, but Perry argues he understands fully the struggle that women have to be seen on equal terms with men.

Indeed this is a man who has read about the emancipation of women and quotes French Utopian Socialist Fourier who said you could judge a society by the way its women are treated.

Explaining his outburst, Perry said: "Being politically correct works in middle class circles but it hasn't reached the working class yet.

"I said it in the heat of the moment - it wasn't meant as a personal comment. I was just exasperated. I have written a letter of apology to Anne Wardle and her gallant partner.

"I have striven, as a socialist, to be very aware and I have campaigned for women's rights," he said.

His mother Joyce and grandmother Violet were strong women who brought up their children single-handedly - and he is full of admiration for them.

Cllr McMillan has been strongly involved in the New Deal for Thornhill and he wants more work to be done to help the women living on the estate.

"We have one of the highest instances of single mothers living in the city. Work has been done to identify the problems at Thornhill but we need to look at aspects of improving women's lives," he said.

"I would like to see young women getting a better education so they don't have to have the same sort of life as their mothers."

He cited his own wife and said he was so proud of her.

"My wife Karen got a job as a dinner lady at the local school. I am so proud of her because she hasn't been to college or night school and now she is a teacher's assistant.

"She is a great example of how a working class woman living on a council estate can achieve so much," he said.

Labour city councillors are anxious to draw a line under the arguments within their party that led to 14 councillors, including Labour leader June Bridle and her Cabinet, threatening to defect.

A petition bearing their signatures was drawn up alleging bullying and intimidation.