Recorded in City Hall at last week’s World Islamic Economic Forum, according to Snipe London Johnson displayed his trademark brand of jocular risqué humour, responding to a remark from Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak, who said “Before coming here my officials have told me that the latest university intake in Malaysia, a Muslim country, 68% will be women entering our universities.”
Boris responded, with the remark “They’ve got to find men to marry.”
The remark was reportedly met with laughter and groans.
Commentators on Twitter have accused the mayor of sexism.
Johnson was recently accused of being “disrespectful, patronising way at meetings” by female members of the London Assembly.
“He tends to treat men with a much more jokey matey attitude, whereas he tends to put us down and say things like ‘I think you’ve added up your figures wrongly’,” said The Green Party’s Jenny Jones.
Boris Johnson: women go to uni because “they’ve got to find men to marry” http://t.co/XzOgIOQCxe (h/t @sunny_hundal) #everydaysexism
— Claire Phipps (@Claire_Phipps) July 8, 2013
Oh dear: Boris Johnson on why women attend University – “they’ve got to find men to marry” http://t.co/vMUZp8LTwi errr not sure we agree BJ!
— Arts Emergency (@artsemergency) July 8, 2013
It could have been worse. Boris could have completed quote with “Not the pretty ones, of course. They can find husbands by playing tennis.”
— Political Animal (@politic_animal) July 8, 2013
