A Polish MEP has been suspended from the European Parliament after he said that women should earn less than men because they are weaker, smaller and less intelligent.

As well as a 10-day suspension, Janusz Korwin-Mikke will now also lose his daily subsistence allowance for 30 days which amounts to just over £8,000.

He is also banned from representing the parliament for one year.

Parliament President Antonio Tajani's announcement of the punishment in Strasbourg was greeted by applause, although Mr Korwin-Mikke, 74, appeared to laugh and applaud himself.

During a debate on 1 March on the gender pay gap the radical right-winger, who leads a marginal party, said: "Of course women must earn less than men because they are weaker, they are smaller, they are less intelligent.


"They must earn less, that's all."

The European Parliament said the sanctions against the politician are "unprecedented in severity".

Parliamentary authorities launched an investigation under rules specifying that members must show mutual respect and refrain from "defamatory, racist or xenophobic language or behaviour".

Mr Tajani said: "I will not tolerate such behaviour, in particular when it comes from someone who is expected to discharge his duties as a representative of the peoples of Europe with due dignity.

"By offending all women, (Korwin-Mikke) displayed contempt for our most fundamental values."

Mr Korwin-Mikke has previously been punished by the EU for making racist comments, referring to refugees as "human garbage" and remarks about the Holocaust.

Nearly one million people signed a petition calling for the European Parliament to punish him for him comments.