Harriet Harman squared up to the Terminator today, challenging Arnold Schwarzenegger to close down a website she called “TripAdvisor for pimps”.

The Equalities Minister condemned PunterNet, a site which allows men to compare and rate prostitutes, as “the ultimate commodification of women”.

The business is based in California but lists women "for sale" in the UK and Ms Harman challenged the State’s Governor, Mr Schwarzenegger, to shut it down.

She told a cheering conference hall in Brighton: “Surely it can’t be too difficult for the terminator to terminate PunterNet. If he doesn’t I’ve got a message for Arnie – I’ll be back!”

Outlining her plans to ban sex with women under the control of pimps, Ms Harman declared: “prostitution is not work. It’s exploitation of women by men.”

She also hit back at The Sun newspaper, which chose this morning to endorse the Conservatives. “I am speaking to you this morning about something The Sun knows absolutely nothing about: equality.

“The nearest their political analysis gets to women's rights is Page 3's News in Briefs. We are all angry about The Sun this morning but I say to you: don't get bitter, get better.”

In an unapologetic defence of Labour plans to legislate for equality, Ms Harman condemned ageism, the BNP and lower pay for women, while ridiculing the Conservatives.

She imagined “diversity night” at next week’s Tory conference. “It would be held in the Carlton Club, David Cameron would announce more opportunities for fox-hunting. George Osborne, instead of a Sure Start centre in every community, would promise a lap dancing club in every community.

“Theresa May, the Shadow Equalities Minister, wouldn’t be allowed to speak because she’s a woman. But she might be allowed to serve the drinks. There would be music – but obviously not Girls Aloud.”

Ms Harman won an ovation from the hall after her speech, in which she insisted: “Equality is not just a slogan.”

She said firms should publish how much they paid their male and female employees in an attempt end a situation where men women are paid 22 per cent les than men.

“A 22 per cent pay gap in the 21st century? That is just not acceptable in this day and ages.” She vowed: “Bad employers will have nowhere to hide.”

However, Ms Harman veered from the script to lavish praise on Army wives, promising to help soldiers’ wives while their husbands are in Afghanistan.

“The wives of our servicemen have always held things together at home. And the task has become even more difficult with the men away fighting the Taleban,” she said.

Carrie Mitchell, of the English Collective of Prostitutes, condemned the idea of forcing PunterNet to close. "Once again instead of prioritising dealing with rape and other violence, Harman is prioritising censorship and repression. It is women trying to support families in the recession who will be first to suffer," she said.

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