‘WOMEN ARE NOT OBJECTS’
Theresa May piles pressure on children’s minister Nadhim Zahawi over attending sleazy Presidents Club party after making impassioned plea for equality
A FURIOUS Theresa May has piled pressure on the children's minister Nadhim Zahawi over attending the sleazy Presidents Club party after making an impassioned plea for equality.
The Prime Minister said the reports of groping and harassment at the sordid men-only dinner has made her even more determined to eradicate the objectification of women and rid society of sexism.
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Speaking at Davos she did say she accepts Mr Zahawi’s explanation for his presence at the seedy bash at the Dorchester hotel, but her fiery comments add to the burden on the under-fire MP.
It comes after he was hauled in to Number 10 for a “dressing down” by the Chief Whip in the furore surrounding the charity auction dubbed a “gropers’ gala”, after female staff were allegedly harassed by businessmen.
He has faced calls to resign amid claims there are inconsistencies in his story about when exactly he left the event last Thursday, where women paid £150 to be hostesses were groped according to an undercover expose by the .
Speaking to Bloomberg, Mrs May said: “I was appalled when I read the report of this Presidents Club event.
“I thought that sort of attitude of the objectification of women was something that was in the past - something that we had got over.”
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But in an interview at the World Economic Forum in she said the investigation showed there was “still a lot more work to do”.
In pointed remarks she said we needed to continue to a point where “we really can say women are respected and treated as equals”.
Asked if ridding Britain of more Presidents Clubs needed more rules the PM replied: “This is about attitudes and about saying women are not objects just to be used.
“We are equals, we have our own position, our own abilities and we should be respected.”
The PM added that change need to happen so that society “recognises the value women can bring to business, the value to politics” – and erases the attitude that says women are objects.
“It’s so important that women are able to take their place as equals,” she finished by saying."
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But the PM did accept Mr Zahawi’s explanation, adding. "I understand that Nadhim was uncomfortable about what happened at the dinner and left the dinner on that basis.''
She has been pressured to order an official investigation as questions arise whether his attendance was a breach of the ministerial code of conduct.
Mr Zahawi, who was only promoted to his post in the Department for Education in this month’s reshuffle, will have to face her enforcer – the Chief Whip Julian Smith today.
He received the backing of Cabinet minister Michael Gove, who tweeted this morning: "My friend Nadhim Zahawi is a really decent and honourable guy who’s in public life to help others - part of a great team at the Department for Education."
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Sources suggested he would face the sack if unable to give a full account about what he knew about what went on at the now-notorious event – which he is thought to have been to before he was elected.
Mr Zahawi has said he left the event early, and told The Sun he behaved appropriately throughout.
During the fall-out from the allegations, Mr Zahawi tweeted: "I do unequivocally condemn this behaviour. The report is truly shocking. I will never attend a men only function ever."
And in a later tweet he said he had been "consistent" over his account of events.
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Kate Maltby on sexual harassment allegations directed at Presidents Club Dinner
He said: "I told No10 and friends that I arrived at 8pm and left at 9:35pm as I felt uncomfortable.
"I did not see any of the horrific events reported by the FT. I am shocked by them and condemn them unequivocally."
Mr Zahawi has rejected claims that he initially told Downing Street he left when the hostesses arrived - which was around 8pm according to reports of the event.
But he still faces more questions about why he attended, according to the Tory chair of the Women and Equalities committee.
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Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Maria Miller said: “No government minister should be going to an event where women are only there as the entertainment, that’s not acceptable.
“There are questions about why Nadhim had accepted this invitation.”
And a Labour MP demanded a police probe, saying there was revulsion at what were “crimes against women and a decent society”.
Christian Matheson, added: “Plenty of men share my bewilderment at what’s gone on.”
But some of his fellow ministers have backed Mr Zahawi, with the Culture Secretary saying he has given a “reasonable explanation” over his attendance at the Presidents Club.
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Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme Matt Hancock said he was happy that it had now shut down, saying it was “goodbye to rubbish”.
And Margot James, who criticised the dinner as an event for “slimeballs”, said she was satisfied with her colleague’s explanation of what happened.
The minister for digital and creative industries told BBC’s Newsnight: “I’ve spoken to him. I wanted to get the facts.
“He went home very shortly after the hostesses were announced by the presenter and paraded around the room.
“That indicates to me that he was shocked by the events, didn’t like the culture, the atmosphere, and left.”
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Asked why he didn’t report concerns about the event she said: “I think he went home and told his wife, but I think the event degenerated further into the evening.
“I think he didn’t realise how bad it got.”
It comes as Mrs May is set to target gagging orders that prevent women reporting sexual harassment, according to , after reports the hostesses had to sign confidentiality agreements.
And the head of the Charity Commission has said she is "horrified" over the allegations, with Helen Stephenson saying they are looking into them "as a matter of urgency".