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Prominent lip readers have been unable to agree on whether Jeremy Corbyn called Theresa May a "stupid woman" at Prime Minister's Questions.

Mr Corbyn's spokesman denied the claims, insisting the Labour leader had said "stupid people", referring to the Tory backbenches.

But the comments sparked an epic row in the Commons, with Tory MPs demanding Corbyn return to the chamber to apologise.

And now two prominent lip readers are at odds over what he did say.

Forensic lip-reader Jessica Rees told the Mirror: "It’s very clear if you lipread him he’s saying “stupid people”.

But the BBC's Tim Johns, a producer for the Jeremy Vine show, showed the footage to another prominent lipreader who came to a different conclusion.

(Image: PA)

He tweeted: "I just showed Evelyn Glennie, the famous percussionist, the footage of Jeremy Corbyn in the Commons. She's deaf and can lip read.

"She wasn't aware of the story and her interpretation of what he said was "stupid woman".

"She says she's very certain."

The apparent outburst came after a terse exchange, in which Mr Corbyn reminded Mrs May the next meeting of the European Council was not until March - two months after the rescheduled meaningful vote is supposed to take place.

(Image: NEIL HALL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

He said: "She will be bringing back the same deal she pulled last week - it's an intolerable situation and she is simply playing for time."

Mrs May said her "achievements" with EU negotiators would be set out in the new year and again insisted Mr Corbyn had no alternative Brexit deal.

She said: "I know it's Christmas and he has looked in his stocking, down the chimney, under the Christmas tree, but he still has not found a Brexit plan.

"He has to accept his responsibility for delivering on Brexit."