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Jeremy Corbyn has sparked a row after suggesting going for post-work drinks with colleagues is sexist.

The Labour leader reckons bosses should discourage a culture of boozing after work because it is unfair on women who have to go home to their children.

Opponents accused him of “trying to ban the after-work pint”.

Labour MP Chris Bryant, who is backing Owen Smith in the party’s leadership contest, said: “Where on earth does this kind of patronising, goody-two-shoes, anti-social twaddle come from? Is he trying to take the ‘social’ out of socialism?”

But Mr Corbyn insisted many bosses and women’s campaigners agree that after-work boozing can be unfair on some.

Setting out policies designed to improve gender equality, Mr Corbyn said: “A substantial number of women who quite rightly take time out of work with maternity leave end up finding themselves reduced in their work when they get back.”

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He went on: “The behaviour of companies that encourage an ethic of early-evening­ socialisation to promote ­themselves within the company benefits men who don’t feel the need to be at home looking after their children, and it discriminates against women who want to obviously look after the children they’ve got.”

His remarks caused a storm on social media.

Mr Corbyn was backed by moderate Labour MP Stella Creasy, who tweeted: “JC right networking gendered – answer is for fathers to do equal childcare so mothers can go out & enjoy themselves.”

But UKIP MEP Patrick O’Flynn said: “I see Corbyn is against blokes going for a beer with workmates at the end of a shift.

“Another winner from Labour in working class communities!”

A spokesman for the Jeremy for Labour campaign hit back and said: “Clearly this was not what Jeremy was suggesting.

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"He instead highlighted a concern among many women’s groups and the head of the CBI that a male-led after-work networking culture can be detrimental to the career progression of female co-workers.”

Mr Corbyn was also under fire from Stoke MP Ruth Smeeth, who claimed to have received 25,000 abusive messages “in his name” since she walked out of his anti-Semitism event in June.

Ms Smeeth, who is Jewish, urged him to “name and shame” those responsible.

Police are investigating one Facebook user who ­called her a “f*****g traitor” who should hang. The post was written by a person claiming to be a Corbyn supporter.

Ms Smeeth told BBC News: “ Jeremy Corbyn was clear apparently that while he condemned it, we should just ignore the abuse.

Well, threats detailing how someone wants to hang me... that is not something that I nor the police can ignore.”

He's right, says Alison Phillips

Woah. Hold on. First up, Jeremy Corbyn never said it was sexist to slip out for a glass of Pinot Grigio after work.

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What he did say was work socialising benefits men who don’t feel the need to be at home looking after their children and it discriminates against women who will want to look after the children.

Which is, er, absolutely correct.

Yes, some men like to get off home to see their kids. And some women don’t.

But in the main, more men are happy to go for a pint at the end of the day while mums are more likely to shoot off home because they want to see their kids.

Not to mention cook tea, help with homework, stick them in the bath, read bedtime stories and kiss them goodnight.

And while those women are getting kids in pyjamas, their male colleagues are bonding over Peroni. Which is obviously going to benefit their careers.

Whether women go home out of choice, necessity or generations of family socialisation is irrelevant. It’s the way it is.

But no one is banning anyone from a swift half after knocking-off time.

And no one should be blaming men – or women – for it. But until realities like this are spoken about and argued out, discrimination will remain hidden. And that’s no good for any workplace.

He's wrong, says Coleen Nolan

I can’t believe Corbyn has come out with such a sexist comment.

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Now any mother who wants to go for a drink after work will automatically feel guilty, when there’s no reason to.

Obviously if a firm orders someone that they have to go out after work or be fired, that would be wrong.

But that’s not what Corbyn is talking about. He’s talking about colleagues going out for a quick drink and a bit of a so-called “bonding sesh”.

He actually said such drinks discriminate against women who will want to, obviously, look after the children. Firstly, not all working women are mothers. Secondly, even if you are a mother, it doesn’t automatically mean you want to rush home to the kids. Thirdly, why does he assume no fathers want to go home and see their children?

Are we living in the 1950s?

From what I hear people in this century share their childcare between them – and they both share, and enjoy, nights out.

What really upsets me however, is that Corbyn has chosen to talk about this – something that as an agony aunt I have never been aware of as a problem.

There are so, so many more pressing problems, especially today. To me, it feels like a complete waste of breath.