Farming Minister Jim Paice has become the latest Tory minister to stand accused of using sexist language in Parliament. Paice joins David Cameron, who last year told Labour MP Angela Eagle to “Calm down, dear,” sparking a furore over the Prime Minister’s attitude towards women.

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Although the government was forced into a U-turn over plans to sell off public forests by a massive public backlash, the future of 15 per cent of the state’s forests remains uncertain. Ms Lucas was yesterday seeking assurance that the government had no plans to sell the remainder.

Following the farming minister’s comments, shadow minister Fiona O'Donnell, who directed the next question at Mr Paice, said, “I hope he will give me a more reasoned and possibly less sexist response this time.”

Labour MP Ben Bradshaw tweeted, “Sexism alive and well in the Tory Party as Farming Minister calls Green MP Caroline Lucas ‘always hysterical’ at DEFRA questions,” during the debate.

‘Hysteria’ originally referred to a catch-all medical condition thought to be particular to women in pre-twentieth century medicine, believed to be caused by disturbances of the uterus. Critics of Mr Paice feel he used the term to condescend Ms Lucas

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