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Theresa May refuses to sack Toby Young over misogynistic and homophobic tweets Theresa May refuses to sack Toby Young over misogynistic and homophobic tweets
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May has backed Toby Young to continue in his new role with the universities watchdog, despite mounting pressure to sack him over a series of misogynistic and homophobic tweets.Theresa May has backed Toby Young to continue in his new role with the universities watchdog, despite mounting pressure to sack him over a series of misogynistic and homophobic tweets.
Mr Young was forced to explain why he had posted messages commenting on the appearance of women's breasts, described gay singer George Michael as "queer as a coot' and written a story about dressing up as a lesbian, in which he referred to gay women as "hardcore dykes" Mr Young was forced to explain why he had posted messages commenting on the appearance of women's breasts, described gay singer George Michael as "queer as a coot" and written a story about dressing up as a lesbian, in which he referred to gay women as "hardcore dykes"
The Prime Minister admitted she was "not at all impressed" by the right-wing journalist's previous comments but suggested she will not be reversing his appointment. The Prime Minister admitted she was "not at all impressed" by the right-wing journalist's previous comments but suggested she would not reverse his appointment.
Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, she said: "Toby Young has done exceedingly good work in relation to free schools and that's what led to him being appointed to the Office for Students.Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, she said: "Toby Young has done exceedingly good work in relation to free schools and that's what led to him being appointed to the Office for Students.
"When he was appointed I was not aware of these comments that he had made. Frankly I'm not at all impressed by those comments.""When he was appointed I was not aware of these comments that he had made. Frankly I'm not at all impressed by those comments."
She warned Mr Young she will sack him if he continues to post offensive messages, saying: "He's now in public office and as far as I'm concerned if he was to continue to use that sort of language and talk of that sort of way, he would no longer be in public office.She warned Mr Young she will sack him if he continues to post offensive messages, saying: "He's now in public office and as far as I'm concerned if he was to continue to use that sort of language and talk of that sort of way, he would no longer be in public office.
"He's apologised but if he continues to talk and use this sort of language, then he will no longer be in public office."He's apologised but if he continues to talk and use this sort of language, then he will no longer be in public office.
Labour urged the Prime Minister to sack Mr Young after the tweets came to light. Mr Young was also revealed to have tweeted a joke about deriving sexual pleasure from watching a television clip about Kenyan children living in extreme poverty.
When one Twitter user wrote in 2009 that she had “gone through five boxes of Kleenex” while watching the difficult clip, Mr Young replied: ‘Me Too, I havn’t [sic] w***** so much in ages.’
The journalist, who has also founded several free schools, has since deleted almost 50,000 tweets from his account in an apparent attempt to stop further damaging revelations.
Labour urged the Prime Minister to sack Mr Young after the offensive posts came to light.
Dawn Butler, the party's Shadow Equalities Minister, told The Independent: "If she fails to rethink this appointment, the message Theresa May is sending to students is that under the Tories, misogyny and homophobia will not just be tolerated but rewarded.”Dawn Butler, the party's Shadow Equalities Minister, told The Independent: "If she fails to rethink this appointment, the message Theresa May is sending to students is that under the Tories, misogyny and homophobia will not just be tolerated but rewarded.”
More follows… In response, Mr Young said: “I’m neither misogynistic nor homophobic. I’m a strong supporter of both women’s rights and LGBT rights.”