Campaigners for a statue of Margaret Thatcher in Parliament Square have gained an unlikely ally in the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, who has accused those opposing it of being “pretty sexist”.

Jo Swinson yesterday said the debate over the statue had been marred by a “whiff of misogyny”, as she expressed her disappointment at the decision by Westminster Council to reject the proposals.

Ms Swinson, who took over as deputy last year, said it was right that Britain’s first female prime minister be commemorated, adding that there was “no denying” Baroness Thatcher’s significance as a political figure.

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Ms Swinson said that politicians from across the spectrum should back the plans if they were serious about furthering gender equality.

She added that it was unacceptable that Parliament and public spaces remained “packed” with monuments of men, and that MPs needed to “fight for space for women” - even those they “vigorously disagree with”.