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Jo Swinson has taken John Humphrys to task on the BBC's Today programme in a terse confrontation over his controversial remarks on the gender pay gap.

The Liberal Democrat MP asked the Radio 4 presenter if he had said sorry to Carrie Gracie over jokes he made during an off-air conversation with North America editor Jon Sopel last month.

"While I have got you here John, have you apologised to Carrie Gracie for the remarks you made about her courageous stance on equal pay?" asked Ms Swinson.

Her comments came as Mr Humphrys grilled her over the definition of sexual harassment and asked whether it was "slightly bizarre" that elected MPs should need training about it as they are "hugely important" people.

Humphrys responded that he had written an email to Ms Gracie "immediately after that exchange" and added: "Quite what this has to do with what we are discussing here, I fail to see - but there we are."

Swinson shot back that "it wouldn't be the first time a question has been thrown in at the end" before Humphrys ended the interview saying her question was "entirely irrelevant".

BBC bosses were said to be “deeply unimpressed” by the conversation in which Humphrys asked Sopel how much of his salary he would be prepared to “hand over” to keep Ms Gracie at the BBC.

He then added: “Oh dear God, she's actually suggested you should lose money."

Mr Humphrys told the Times after the details leaked that the conversation had not been intended as a criticism of Ms Gracie.

“This was what I thought was an exchange between two old friends who have known each other for 30 years and were taking the mickey out of each other,” he said.

"It was nothing to do with Carrie's campaign."