A former Guardian journalist has come under for saying 'attractive young women' working in Westminster are 'predators' who prey on 'poor old, ugly backbenchers'.

Speaking on Radio 4 yesterday, the left-wing paper's former political editor Michael White suggested MPs caught up in the Westminster sex scandal could be targets for young, female journalists.

He said: 'The power doesn't all lie on one side. Clever, attractive young women looking for stories, they can play the power game to poor old ugly backbenchers.'

Former Guardian political editor Michael White has been branded 'sexist' for claiming female political journalists can be 'predators' around 'poor old, ugly backbenchers'

His comments caused anger online, with some women journalists branding his views 'b******t' and others insisting he was making it more difficult for them to be taken seriously.

The Telegraph's Kate McCann wrote: 'So, according to Michael White, as a female lobby journalist I am a "predator" who tricks "poor old ugly backbenchers" to get stories.

'As if it's not hard enough to be taken seriously as a woman working in politics without senior male journalists saying this stuff. Furious.'

Rachel Wearmouth‏, of the Huffington Post, added: 'I'm a female northerner & had to work my a*** off to get where I am, like so many others. Michael White's talking bs.'

Despite the criticism, Mr White stood by his views when he appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain today.

He doubled down on his views on ITV's Good Morning Britain today despite coming under fire from fellow journalists

He told the show: 'This is about power - men abusing power. But women have power too. And young women get quite cross when I say this, but sexual power.

'And if you are a bald, middle-aged MP and you are taken out to lunch by a clever, funny, amusing, attractive young woman - of course they exploit it.

'After I made that remark a friend of mine said: "You're quite right Michael. There's an MP years ago, I knew he had a crush on me and I exploited it to get stories. Nothing happened between us".'

Sir Michael Fallon became the first scalp claimed by the Westminster sex scandal this week when he admitted his behaviour had 'fallen below the high standards required'

Broadcaster and journalist Daisy McAndrew countered: 'I've known Mike for a lot of years, but he has just exhibited the exact problem in the House of Commons which is rampant sexism and a total lack of respect for women.

'It's complete rubbish to say female journalists use their wiles to get stories and it's insulting.'

She added: 'What Michael is saying is that women get stories because they're women. And that is the kind of sexism we have been trying to get over for the last 50 years.'

The culture in Westminster has come under scrutiny this week after a so-called 'speadsheet of shame' emerged making claims of impropriety against senior Tories.

Sir Michael Fallon, who quit as Defence Secretary on Wednesday after admitting his behaviour had 'fallen below the high standards required' in the role, was reportedly forced out after Cabinet colleague Andrea Leadsom passed a dossier of claims to Number 10.

Sources close the Tory MP said he 'fundamentally denied' claims he made a crude joke to the Commons leader while Mrs Leadsom's team and Number 10 declined to comment.