Abortion campaigners round on MP James Cleverley accusing him of 'mansplaining feminism' after he posts an ill advised tweet

PA

Pro-choice campaigners have accused Tory MP James Cleverly of mansplaining feminism.

In a series of tweets posted on Wednesday, Mr Cleverly addressed calls for the Prime Minister Theresa May to intervene to help legalise abortion in Northern Ireland.

He urged women to “ask themselves if they are a proper feminist", writing: "Those Labour women who are pointing at Theresa May, a highly successful women in a traditionally man’s world, and trying to undermine her over abortion rights in a devolved part of the UK should ask themselves “am I a proper feminist?”

Pressure had been mounting on the Prime Minister to act in the wake of the historic vote in the Republic of Ireland which saw the country vote for reform of its abortion laws.

Mr Cleverly hit out at female Labour MPs and supporters calling for the Prime Minister to act accusing them of “political game playing.”

He wrote: “The attacks on Theresa May about abortion in Northern Ireland from Labour voices, have little to do with women’s right to choose, and everything to do with opportunistic party political game playing.”

His comments sparked outrage with many people accusing him of “mansplaining” feminism.

“James coming in hot to mansplain some feminism,” one person wrote.

Sean Jones said: “Could you help them by providing a definition of “proper feminist”? I’m sure they’d welcome a man’s perspective.”

While another person said: “I’m so grateful a man is telling me what a feminist is!!!!”

Others accused Mr Cleverly of political game playing himself.

One woman said: “Nothing is more loathsome than a man sticking his oar in to feminism to score political points.”

The Evening Standard has contacted Mr Cleverly for comment.

Ireland abortion referendum - In pictures

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Downing Street said on Tuesday that abortion reform in Northern Ireland is not a matter for Westminster.

More than 140 MPs have said they want the Prime Minister to overturn the province’s strict abortion laws while senior Cabinet figures have spoken out in favour of reform.

Mrs May’s spokesman said: “We are of the view that this is a devolved matter and that people in Northern Ireland are entitled to their own process run by locally elected politicians.”

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