Heseltine ticked off for saying Brexit is ‘man-size job’ for May

Lord Heseltine has been given a ticking-off by a Sky News presenter for describing Theresa May’s task as a "man-size job".

Sarah-Jane Mee had to remind the peer he was speaking about the Prime Minister on International Women’s Day.

The former deputy prime minister, who was sacked as a Government adviser by Mrs May on Tuesday for spearheading a rebellion in the House of Lords over Brexit, said Mee was "perfectly right" to call him out.

The pair had been speaking about his working relationship – or lack thereof – with Mrs May live on Sky News, when Lord Heseltine said he did not "in any way criticise her for this" because "she is very busy".

"She’s got a man-size job," said Lord Heseltine.

The remark was immediately seized upon by Mee, who responded: "It’s a woman-size job now."

Lord Heseltine replied: "I realised as I said it that you wouldn’t be able to resist that."

Mee told him: "Well, it is International Women’s Day."

The peer replied: "You are perfectly right. I find myself chastised by you, and you’re quite right."

Mee assured him her response was meant "in the friendliest possible way", and Lord Heseltine made clear he accepted it in that spirit.

Reacting to the gaffe, lawyer Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, chairwoman of Inspiring Girls International, told Sky News’ All Out Politics programme: "Some of that is a product of a certain generation."

Sometimes people make remarks without thinking of the impact that kind of "drip, drip sexism" has on boys and girls, she said.

She also spoke of the "irony" at being asked to speak at an event to celebrate women’s achievements with an invitation addressed to "Mrs Clegg".

The 48-year-old lawyer, who is married to former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg but uses her maiden name professionally, posted an image of the invitation on Instagram.

She said having a day in the calendar to celebrate women’s success was important this year in particular "because there is backtracking going on in terms of gender rights".

"We are seeing it in the US, we are seeing it in Russia. The things that are being said openly now about women which a couple of years ago people would not have done," she said.

Events, including protests, are being held across the globe to highlight the fight for gender equality.

Nicky Morgan, former education secretary and Conservative MP for Loughborough, penned a letter to her 10-year-old self including advice she wishes she had been told as a young girl.

"Be driven; never let anyone set limits on your ambition. In fact, I don’t remember the people around me in 1982 expecting much in the way of careers for young women," she wrote.

"In 2017 there are no ‘boy’ jobs or ‘girl’ jobs – just the right job for you."

(c) Sky News 2017: Heseltine ticked off for saying Brexit is ‘man-size job’ for May