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Jeremy Corbyn has lashed out at the media for being "utterly obsessed" with whether he called Theresa May a "stupid woman".

Asked on Thursday morning by a BBC reporter whether the language he used was "respectful", he replied: "I muttered it to myself, actually, in Parliament and you and your colleagues in the media seem utterly obsessed with this.

"The fact that a homeless man died outside Parliament has got no coverage whatsoever, and it should."

(Image: Tom Nicholson/LNP)

Mr Corbyn added: "The respectful nature of Parliament is important and a whole load of Tory MPs turning the issue of a no-deal Brexit into a pantomime, that is serious."

Meanwhile, Theresa May has backed Andrea Leadsom's decision to confront Commons Speaker John Bercow over alleged sexism.

Leader of the House Mrs Leadsom leapt on the row engulfing Jeremy Corbyn to fire her own barb at Mr Bercow following Wednesday's stormy Prime Minister's Questions.

(Image: PA)

Mr Corbyn was accused of muttering “stupid woman” about the PM, a charge he denied.

Mrs Leadsom claims the Speaker used the same term to her previously.

And the PM supported the Commons' Leader's decision to challenge the Speaker.

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A senior No 10 source said the PM understands “Andrea fells very strongly about this, and rightly so”.

The backing from Downing Street will fuel claims of a growing rift between Mr Bercow and No 10 as Parliament prepares for a string of Brexit votes after the Christmas recess.

Mr Corbyn's wife, Laura Alvarez, backed him to the today, telling the Daily Mail: “He did not say anything. He is the most respectful person in the world. He respects everyone."

Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom said: "I think he said stupid woman, that's how it looked to me. At one level this is a ridiculous argument, on the other hand it’s really important Parliament treats each other with dignity and respect... we're trying to become a role model and this completely undermines it.