Michael Gove was forced to apologise for making a 'disgusting' joke live on Radio 4 comparing being interviewed by John Humphrys with entering Harvey Weinstein's bedroom.
The cabinet minister told the presenter: 'Sometimes I think coming into the studio with you John is a bit like going into Harvey Weinstein’s bedroom – you hope to emerge with your dignity intact.'
The Tory MP was branded a 'gormless pillock' and 'unfunny cretin' after his remarks on BBC's special edition marking the show's 60th anniversary.
Veteran Labour politician Neil Kinnock, appearing alongside Mr Gove, waded in with a joke about groping.
'John goes way past groping. Way past groping,' he said.
The former Labour leader has yet to issue a public apology despite demands and one listener writing: 'Sexual violence is no punchline'.
And Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine Tweeted: 'Neil Kinnock's reaction to the Harvey Weinstein joke by Michael Gove is the strangest thing about it.'
The jokes were met with laughter and applause from the audience in the studio
in London's Wigmore Hall and the BBC's Nick Robinson Tweeted Gove's joke with a hashtag celebrating the show's anniversary.
Actor Stephen Mangan Tweeted 'morning. Here's a rape joke from Michael Gove to start your day' and Lily Allen called the Environment Secretary a 'bonehead'.
Former Labour minister Lord Adonis said: 'Seriously inappropriate 'joke' sums up a discreditable episode of @BBCr4today self-congratulation.'
Twitter user Steph Howarth said she was 'aghast' at the joke, adding: 'Surely nobody with an inch of sense or humanity would think this was a joking matter?'
'Any reports of sexual harassment are deeply concerning. The prime minister was very clear that any unwanted sexual behaviour is completely unacceptable in any walk of life including politics,' a spokeswoman said yesterday.
In recent weeks scores of women have accused Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment.
The producer denies all allegations of non-consensual sex but has been sacked by his own film company.
The allegations are being investigation by police in the UK and the US, with some women reporting attacks in London.
Mr Gove's remarks come after James Corden was forced to apologise over jokes he made about Weinstein while he was hosting the AmfAR charity gala in Los Angeles.
He said: 'It's a beautiful night here in LA. So beautiful, Harvey Weinstein has already asked tonight up to his hotel to give him a massage.'
Labour MP Stella Creasy noted the similarity between the remarks from Gove and Corden, writing: 'Gove joking about sexual assault just as crass too.'
It comes amid the row over MPs' conduct prompted by reports that at least four have been the subject of sexual misconduct allegations.
Labour backbencher Jared O'Mara has had the party whip suspended over a series of misogynistic and homophobic online postings.
He has also been accused of calling a constituent an 'ugly bitch' - a claim which he denies.
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