Sarah Vine: Liberal Press Worse Than Daily Mail For Sexism

28 March 2017, 17:30 | Updated: 28 March 2017, 18:12

Speaking to Iain Dale, the Daily Mail writer defended her article about Theresa May, Nicola Sturgeon...and their legs.

The newspaper's front page has sparked a huge debate on social media today, accused by some of sexism while others have defended it as harmless fun.

Owen Jones branded it "a sexist disgrace":

#Legsit isn't just a sexist disgrace - it's another sign Brexit is becoming a full-blown counter-revolution. Me: https://t.co/vsigld3XT0 pic.twitter.com/o6pnRj1d4E

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) March 28, 2017

While others took a more light-hearted - but still seemingly unimpressed - view:

Woweee, the pins on that Churchill. #legsit pic.twitter.com/1niCTKHmYc

— Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) March 28, 2017

So Iain Dale invited Sarah Vine, who wrote the piece, on air with Rebecca Morden, feminist activist. While they predictably found lots to disagree on, there was one point that united both guests: not enough attention is paid to sexism in the liberal media.

For Vine, any excuse to attack the Daily Mail was too good for some to ignore: "We provide a mixture of high and low and that is why the Daily Mail is such a fun and interesting newspaper to read.

"I think people are just cross permanently...with the Daily Mail.

"If Private Eye had done that picture with a similar sort of pun and caption, everyone would've thought it was totally hilarious.

"Compared to some of the misogynistic things that have been written in the liberal press, this is very mild."