The Prime Minister has said he is “well aware” that women in public life are subject to higher levels of criticism and abuse than men and “it is time we recognized that”.
Sir Keir Starmer’s comments come after Rachel Reeves told the Times: “I’m sick of people telling me how to be chancellor.”
The newspaper said she made the comment “with some force.”
Reeves, who will present his second budget as chancellor on Wednesday, also said: “I have sacked a lot of those guys before and I will continue to do so.”
Asked about his comments, Sir Keir said he was “really proud” to have appointed the UK’s first female chancellor.
“I firmly believe that women in public life receive a lot more criticism and abuse than men,” she said, adding: “In politics, but also in other areas. I would also say frankly in the media. And I think we need to recognize that.”
The Prime Minister also said he would “absolutely” like to welcome former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner back to the Government at some point.
Rayner, who was housing secretary and deputy leader to Sir Keir, resigned in September after failing to pay enough tax when she bought a flat in Hove, East Sussex.
Referring to her twice as “Ange”, he told reporters: “I’m friends with Ange and I really like Ange and we talk a lot. We still do. It’s always good to have Angela.”
“I’ve always said I want Angela to come back. Even in September, at the time, I said she was going to be a big voice in the Labor movement,” he said.
“But do I want Angela to come back at some point? Yes, absolutely.”
He added: “I think she is the best example of social mobility that has ever existed in the UK – she went from a fairly challenging childhood to being Deputy Prime Minister of the UK.
“She is the story of social mobility above all other stories.”
In an interview last weekend, Rayner did not rule out a return to frontline politics, telling the Daily Mirror he had not “gone away”.
