WEST Yorkshire's Mayor has criticised Home Secretary James Cleverly for a "misogynistic joke" he made about spiking drinks.

Mr Cleverly apologised for what was described as an "ironic joke" at a Downing Street event, which came just hours after the Home Office revealed proposals to tackle spiking.

The Home Secretary told female guests at the event that "a little bit of Rohypnol in her drink every night" was "not really illegal if it's only a little bit", the Sunday Mirror reported.

He also reportedly said that the secret to a long marriage was ensuring your spouse was "someone who is always mildly sedated so she can never realise there are better men out there".

Tracy Brabin, West Yorkshire Mayor, was among those to speak out over his comments.

She said: "The Home Secretary has a responsibility to lead by example.

"This ill-judged and misogynistic 'joke' diminishes the seriousness of spiking.

"To end violence against women and girls, we need allies at the top of Government - not locker room jokers."

Mr Cleverly's allies said his remarks were made in a private setting - but he recognises they were inappropriate.

A spokesman for the Home Secretary said: "In what was always understood as a private conversation, James, the Home Secretary tackling spiking, made what was clearly meant to be an ironic joke – for which he apologises."

Mr Cleverly has previously described tackling violence against women and girls as a "personal priority" and called spiking a "perverse" crime.

Calls for Home Secretary to resign 

Women's rights group the Fawcett Society called for Mr Cleverly to resign over his comments at the Downing Street event.

Fawcett Society chief executive Jemima Olchawski said: "It's sickening that the senior minister in charge of keeping women safe thinks that something as terrifying as drugging women is a laughing matter.

"No wonder women don't feel safe.

"We know that 'banter' is the excuse under which misogyny is allowed to thrive.

"How can we trust him to seriously address violence against women and girls?

"We deserve better than this from our lawmakers and Mr Cleverly should resign."

In a statement, Women's Aid said: "We rely on political leaders to take action to end violence against women and girls, and the misogyny that underpins it.

"It is vital that spiking survivors see ministers treating the subject seriously and not downplaying the reality so many women face."