Lindsay Hoyle should be quiet on Angela Rayner

What’s up with Lindsay Hoyle? On Monday, the Speaker opened the afternoon session of parliament with a statement about the puerile gossip surrounding Angela Rayner. He called the story in the Mail on Sunday, ‘misogynistic’ and ‘offensive to women in parliament.’ Such tasteless yarns, he went on, ‘can only deter women who might be considering standing for election – to the detriment of us all.’ His remedy was to call two meetings. First, a tete-a-tete with Rayner herself. Secondly, a conference with the Mail on Sunday editor and the chair of the press lobby.

Several questions arise. The less urgent issue is why he wished to meet Rayner personally? She strikes very few people as the type who needs a mug of tea and a cosy chat with a sympathetic older gentleman to soothe her nerves. The deputy leader of the Labour party can look after herself. Hoyle appears to have singled her out because she’s a woman and therefore in need of his sage advice and steadying hand.