Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says he will not apologise for labelling a female Liberal MP a “halfwit grub”.

Opposition women’s spokeswoman and Eildon MP Cindy McLeish says the premier made the remark in state parliament on Tuesday, before withdrawing the comment.

“Those comments were deeply offensive to me, but I probably wasn’t surprised because this is a pattern of behaviour we continue to see from the premier,” she told reporters.

“He’s a serial bully, and treats women terribly.”

She and Opposition Leader John Pesutto demanded Mr Andrews say sorry during question time, but the premier said there was nothing to apologise for.

“I’ve defended the member for Northcote (Kat Theophanous)…and I will not be apologising for doing that,” he said.

In 2016, Mr Andrews denied allegations he made disparaging comments about former Liberal MP Donna Bauer in 2014 when she was battling bowel cancer.

– AAP