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Organiser of all-male charity gala resigns from DfE May under pressure to sack minister who attended all-male gala
(about 2 hours later)
David Meller resigns from DfE board amid harassment claims, in move welcomed by PM Families minister Nadhim Zahawi urged to resign as David Meller quits government roles
Matthew Weaver Matthew Weaver,
Phillip Inman and
Sarah Marsh
Wed 24 Jan 2018 12.23 GMTWed 24 Jan 2018 12.23 GMT
Last modified on Wed 24 Jan 2018 13.50 GMT Last modified on Wed 24 Jan 2018 15.55 GMT
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One of the organisers of an all-male charity dinner at which women were allegedly sexually harassed, has resigned as a board member of the Department for Education. Theresa May is under pressure to sack a member of her government after it emerged he attended a men-only charity fundraising event where women were allegedly sexually harassed.
The alleged behaviour by attendees at the President Club’s men-only annual charity dinner has prompted widespread disgust from MPs of all parties. Allegations of guests groping hostesses at the Presidents Club annual charity dinner last week have prompted widespread disgust from MPs of all parties and calls for the resignation of the children and families minister Nadhim Zahawi, who admitted attending the event.
In response to an urgent question in the Commons about the event, the education minister, Anne Milton, said businessman David Meller, a joint chair of the club, would be standing down as both a non-executive director of the department and the chairman of the government’s apprenticeship delivery board. Downing Street confirmed that David Meller, a co-chair of the club, had been asked to stand down from the board of the Department for Education and his role as chair of the government’s apprenticeship delivery board.
Milton said: “I understand from reports that at this event there were allegations of inappropriate and lewd behaviour. It is quite extraordinary to me that in the 21st century allegations of this kind are still emerging. The prime minister is facing calls to sack Zahawi, who expressed his shock at the alleged behaviour of fellow guests.
“Women have the right to feel safe wherever they work, and allegations of this type of behaviour are completely unacceptable.” A Downing Street spokesman said: “Mr Zahawi clearly did attend the event briefly and has himself said he felt uncomfortable at it at the point at which the hostesses were introduced by the host.”
She added: “ The government expects board members to adhere to the code of conduct for board members of public bodies. This quite clearly states that they should adhere to seven principles of public life. David Meller is stepping down as non-executive member for the DfE and apprenticeship delivery board, and this is the right thing to do.” He said Zahawi “probably regrets his decision to go”.
Theresa May backed Meller’s resignation, Downing Street said. “Yes, he has been asked to step down and the prime minister thinks that is the right decision,” the prime minister’s spokesman said. The Labour MP Sarah Jones said Zahawi should resign if he did not report his concerns about the event.
“The PM was uncomfortable at the reports she read this morning. I say reports because clearly this is an event to which she would not be invited.” In a Commons debate about the event, she said: “If it transpires that the minister did not report his concerns and that he was there on previous occasions, it is absolutely surely obvious that he needs to resign. Our women are too important, our young girls are too important to get this kind of message from our leaders and to think that it’s acceptable.”
Her colleague Emma Lewell Buck suggested Zahawi should be sacked.
Earlier, Great Ormond Street hospital pledged to return donations from the Presidents Club. Margot James, the minister for digital and creative industries, backed calls for an investigation by the Charity Commission into what she described as an event for “slimeballs”. No 10 said May did not plan to speak directly to Zahawi, who was not in the chamber for the debate.
The annual event, attended by 360 guests including bankers, entrepreneurs and celebrities, included an auction to raise money for good causes. It was held at the exclusive Dorchester hotel and hosted by the comedian David Walliams. Zahawi said on Twitter: “I do unequivocally condemn this behaviour. The report is truly shocking. I will never attend a men-only function ever.”
In response to an urgent question in the Commons about the event, the education minister Anne Milton announced Meller’s resignation.
“David Meller is stepping down as non-executive member for the DfE and apprenticeship delivery board, and this is the right thing to do,” she said. “I understand from reports that at this event there were allegations of inappropriate and lewd behaviour … Women have the right to feel safe wherever they work, and allegations of this type of behaviour are completely unacceptable.”
Meller’s company, the Meller Group, refused to answer questions about his role in the event.
The Bank of England said on Wednesday it had withdrawn the offer of tea with its governor, Mark Carney, and a tour of its Threadneedle Street offices, won by an unnamed bidder at the dinner. A spokesman said: “It won’t be honoured. It was never valid.”
The Bank said officials were appalled by the reports of sexual harassment but it would not be writing to complain to the Presidents Club. “We don’t have a relationship with this organisation and we are not going to start one now,” he said.
The offer of tea with Carney is understood to have been first won at a charity dinner last year and recycled at last week’s event.
The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, which held a charity dinner last November, invited bids to win tea with Carney and a tour of the Bank. Caroline Wright, who runs the appeal, said she believed the winner of the prize had sought to pass it on to the Presidents Club.
She refused to give the name of the winner or how much they paid, but confirmed the charity was trying to contact them to tell them the prize had been rescinded and the money would be refunded. “We don’t give out the names of winners and have never said how much they paid.”
Earlier, Great Ormond Street hospital pledged to return donations from the Presidents Club. A spokeswoman for the GOSH Children’s Charity said: “We would never knowingly accept donations raised in this way. Due to the wholly unacceptable nature of the event we are returning previous donations and will no longer accept gifts from the Presidents Club Charitable Trust.”
Margot James, the minister for digital and creative industries, backed calls for an investigation by the Charity Commission into what she described as an event for “slimeballs”.
I hear you have written to the Charities Commission about the slimeball’s “charity event” last night @joswinson week done, please add my name
The event, attended by 360 guests including bankers, entrepreneurs and celebrities, included an auction to raise money for good causes. It was held at the Dorchester hotel and hosted by the comedian David Walliams. He pointed out that he attended in a “strictly professional capacity and not as a guest”.
In a tweet, Walliams added: “I did not witness any of the kind of behaviour that allegedly occurred and am absolutely appalled by the reports.”
We are keen to hear from people who work in hospitality and have worked at this or similar events about what it’s like. We are also keen to hear from those who work in the city and in major businesses about whether this behaviour is widespread.We are keen to hear from people who work in hospitality and have worked at this or similar events about what it’s like. We are also keen to hear from those who work in the city and in major businesses about whether this behaviour is widespread.
You can share your story by using our encrypted form here.You can share your story by using our encrypted form here.
 We will feature some of your contributions in our reporting. We will feature some of your contributions in our reporting.
According to an undercover investigation by two journalists from the Financial Times, some of the 130 women employed as hostesses to entertain the all-male guest list were subjected to sexual harassment. According to an undercover investigation by two journalists from the Financial Times, some of the 130 women employed as hostesses were allegedly groped repeatedly and invited by diners to join them in bedrooms at the hotel, while some said men had put hands up their skirts.
The women were allegedly groped repeatedly and invited by diners to join them in bedrooms at the hotel, while some said men had put hands up their skirts. The FT reporter Madison Marriage, who went undercover at the event, told BBC2’s Newsnight: “I was groped several times and I know that there are numerous other hostesses who said the same thing had happened to them.
I hear you have written to the Charities Commission about the slimeball’s “charity event” last night @joswinson week done, please add my name “It’s hands up skirts, hands on bums but also hands on hips, hands on stomachs, arms going round your waist unexpectedly. The worst I was told by one of the hostesses was a man taking his penis out during the course of the dinner.”
A spokeswoman for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity said: “We are shocked to hear of the behaviour reported at the Presidents Club Charitable Trust fundraising dinner. The Charity Commission said it was looking into the allegations “as a matter of urgency”. Tracy Howarth, its head of regulatory compliance, said: “Charities have a duty to fundraise responsibly and in line with their values. Trustees must also consider the well-being and protection of staff and all those who come into contact with their charity – not just those they are there to help.”
“We would never knowingly accept donations raised in this way. Due to the wholly unacceptable nature of the event we are returning previous donations and will no longer accept gifts from the Presidents Club Charitable Trust.” Items at the event’s auction included lunch with the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, a trip to the Windmill strip club in Soho, and plastic surgery “to spice up your wife”.
The GOSH Charity official response to reports today around the Presidents Club Charitable Trust. pic.twitter.com/rTpM1Kb8Qt A spokesman for the organisers said they were appalled by the allegations. “Such behaviour is totally unacceptable. The allegations will be investigated fully and promptly and appropriate action taken.”
The Dorchester hotel said it was “deeply concerned” and an investigation had been launched.
Meller’s company, the Meller Group, refused to answer questions about his role in the event.
Financial Times reporter Madison Marriage, who went undercover at the event, told BBC2’s Newsnight: “I was groped several times and I know that there are numerous other hostesses who said the same thing had happened to them.
“It’s hands up skirts, hands on bums but also hands on hips, hands on stomachs, arms going round your waist unexpectedly.
“The worst I was told by one of the hostesses was a man taking his penis out during the course of the dinner.
The Charity Commission said it was looking into the allegations “as a matter of urgency”.
Tracy Howarth, its head of regulatory compliance, said: “Charities have a duty to fundraise responsibly and in line with their values. Trustees must also consider the well-being and protection of staff and all those who come into contact with their charity - not just those they are there to help.”
Items at an auction at the event included lunch with foreign secretary Boris Johnson, a trip to the Windmill strip club in Soho, and plastic surgery “to spice up your wife”.
Organisers have vowed to investigate claims of “bad behaviour”, which included guests groping women, inviting them up to bedrooms and one diner indecently exposing himself.
A spokesman said: “The organisers are appalled by the allegations of bad behaviour at the event asserted by the Financial Times reporters. Such behaviour is totally unacceptable. The allegations will be investigated fully and promptly and appropriate action taken.”
The Dorchester Hotel said it is “deeply concerned” and an investigation has been launched.
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