Business chiefs claim Presidents Club gala ‘no worse than rugby club dinner’
PROPERTY executives have defended the Presidents Club gala - saying the women "know what they are doing".
The seedy underbelly of the annual dinner was exposed this week, with claims that leering rich men grope scantily clad hostesses over the night.
But one of the property industry workers today told : "They are not underage girls, they are all over 18, they know what they are doing.
"They all know it's a bit racy. There is free champagne, they can have a drink, they have fun. Do things happen after? God knows. They can always complain to the police if so."
Another described the event, attended by 300 guests, as comparable to a "rugby club dinner".
The Presidents Club has since reportedly announced it will close after the scandal, with politicians and business leaders denouncing the fundraising event.
It comes after sent two undercover reporters to the event to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct.
Posing as a hostess, journalist Madison Marriage reported that "all of the women were told to wear skimpy black outfits with matching underwear and high heels" to woo the boozed-up attendees.
Ms Marriage said during her six hours there she was groped several times and that "many of the hostesses were subjected to groping, lewd comments and repeated requests to join diners in bedrooms elsewhere in the Dorchester".
She said the 130 hostesses, who were paid £150 each for a night's work, were made to parade into the ballroom in height order to the music of Little Mix before attending to their designated tables.
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Financial Times reporter Madison Marriage, who went undercover to expose the scandal, said: “It was shocking and surprising to see it still going on in this day and age.”
Host David Walliams said he did "not witness any of the kind of behaviour that allegedly occurred" and was "absolutely appalled by the reports".
An urgent probe has now been opened by the Charity Commission into conduct at last Thursday's event.