They say he muttered "stupid woman" from the Opposition Front Bench

(A toffee-nosed tory of other days might have uttered "silly wench").

Cue for shock, dismay and awe - and hapless Jeremy got what for,

Not so much for what he said - but how he stood up and misled

Those who swooned in their cocoon of panting pious outrage

As JC played his leading role from a totally different page

Persisting in resisting and Insisting  - according to his adopted new script -

That nothing of the dreaded misogynist kind had ever really slipped

From a tight-lipped mouth so readily adept at offering cosy platitudes

And doubtless inwardly condemning the risibly righteous attitudes

In a place that has known insults and barbs full of withering wit

And took them all in its stride before - sadly - the humour quit.

Churchill and Lady Astor - and Bessie Braddock too

Gave as good as they often got - and knew a thing or two

About the rough and tumble of giving and taking offence;

Untruths are ingrained in politics but what happened to common sense?

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