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MPs call for police investigation into Presidents Club scandal MPs call for police investigation into Presidents Club scandal
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Letter asks Scotland Yard to investigate whether sexual harassment and pimping occurred at men-only eventLetter asks Scotland Yard to investigate whether sexual harassment and pimping occurred at men-only event
Rob DaviesRob Davies
Thu 25 Jan 2018 17.02 GMTThu 25 Jan 2018 17.02 GMT
Last modified on Thu 25 Jan 2018 17.41 GMT Last modified on Thu 25 Jan 2018 19.09 GMT
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MPs are to ask police to investigate whether crimes were committed at the men-only Presidents Club dinner, attended by billionaires, politicians and businessmen, at which hired hostesses were allegedly groped and sexually harassed. MPs have asked police to investigate whether crimes were committed at the men-only Presidents Club dinner, attended by billionaires, politicians and businessmen, at which hired hostesses were allegedly groped and sexually harassed.
At least three MPs are writing to the Metropolitan police following reports that women believed to be sex workers were present at an after-party attended by some of the guests.At least three MPs are writing to the Metropolitan police following reports that women believed to be sex workers were present at an after-party attended by some of the guests.
Calls for a police investigation came after an ITV interview with a hostess, who said she was “100% sure” that sex workers were present later in the evening, as guests moved to another room in the exclusive Dorchester hotel after dinner. Prime minister Theresa May said she was “appalled” – a day after declaring herself “uncomfortable” – while her spokesman said she would examine the use of non-disclosure agreements, which female staff were allegedly made to sign before the event.
In a letter to the Metropolitan police commissioner, Cressida Dick, the Liberal Democrat leader, Vince Cable, and the party’s deputy leader, Jo Swinson, asked if Scotland Yard would open a criminal investigation. Labour peer and fundraiser Lord Mendelsohn is expected to lose his front bench seat in the House of Lords after Labour sources said they were “deeply concerned” by his presence at the annual dinner.
“We would be grateful if you can now confirm that the Metropolitan police will investigate the criminal nature of allegations made against individuals involved,” they wrote. But families and children minister Nadhim Zahawi looked set to survive being revealed as a guest, despite having been summoned to Downing Street to explain his attendance.
“In particular, offences of harassment and pimping appear to have taken place. Women must be able to have confidence that perpetrators of sexual harassment, abuse and assault will be brought to book. Calls for a police investigation came after an ITV interview with a hostess, who said she was “100% sure” that sex workers were present at an after-party, as dinner guests moved to another room in the exclusive Dorchester hotel.
In a letter to the Metropolitan police commissioner, Cressida Dick, the Liberal Democrat leader, Vince Cable, and the party’s deputy leader, Jo Swinson, asked Scotland Yard to open a criminal investigation.
“In particular, offences of harassment and pimping appear to have taken place,” they said.
“Women must be able to have confidence that perpetrators of sexual harassment, abuse and assault will be brought to book.
“It is fundamental to that confidence that all such allegations are taken seriously and investigated immediately. There can be no place in today’s Britain for the behaviour reported, nor for ‘secret societies’ behind which individual perpetrators can hide.”“It is fundamental to that confidence that all such allegations are taken seriously and investigated immediately. There can be no place in today’s Britain for the behaviour reported, nor for ‘secret societies’ behind which individual perpetrators can hide.”
Jess Phillips, chair of the women’s parliamentary Labour party, is also understood to have contacted the Metropolitan police, while fellow Labour MP Yvette Cooper called for multiple parallel investigations into potential law breaches. Jess Phillips, chair of the women’s parliamentary Labour party, is also understood to have contacted the Metropolitan police, while fellow Labour MP Yvette Cooper called for multiple investigations and tougher equality laws.
“Laws exist to prevent this kind of harassment and misogynistic abuse. “Neither the law, nor the enforc=ment are strong enough – this isn’t good enough,” said Cooper.“If any law has been broken the full force of the law will come down on those who have broken it. Yet so far there is no sign of a serious investigation into the harassment and exploitation of women staff.”
“The Charity Commission is rightly investigating the Presidents Club. But the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) should also be investigating both the agency involved as well as the Presidents Club. She called for investigations into the Presidents Club, which has said it will close down, as well as Arista, the agency that supplied the hostesses and took much of its webite offline on Thursday.
“Frankly for the EHRC just to send a couple of letters isn’t enough. They should be actively investigating this in order to challenge the harassment and exploitation that the undercover investigation has exposed. “The government needs to make sure there is a proper investigation – if necessary including both the EHRC and the police – into these events,” she added.
“And if they find evidence of criminal wrongdoing, harassment or exploitation they should refer that directly to the police too.” Cooper also echoed comments from the women and equalities select committee chair, Maria Miller, who has suggested the Equality Act, watered down five years ago, be made tougher.
Cooper also echoed comments from the women and equalities select committee chair, Maria Miller, who has suggested the Equality Act should be made tougher. “If the law isn’t strong enough and if enforcement of it is a joke, then people will carry on getting away with this kind of sleazy exploitation and sexism.
“Equality laws were weakened five years ago when section 40 of the Equality Act was repealed – watering down the protection for women against harassment at work. Those laws should be strengthened again. “Time’s up – we need stronger law and stronger enforcement, women shouldn’t have to put up with this any more.”
“The EHRC needs to be strong enough and resourced enough to investigate too if this outrageous behaviour is to be challenged.” In an interview on ITV’s Good Morning programme, one woman who said she had worked as a “hostess” at the Presidents Club dinner described the conditions endured by staff.
In an interview on ITV’s Good Morning programme, one woman who worked as a “hostess” at the Presidents Club dinner described the conditions endured by staff.
“The organisers were quite pushy and scary. If you were seen not talking to a man you would be pushed towards a man and [they would] say, ‘Look at that man over there, he looks lonely, go and talk to him, you’re being paid to do a job.’”“The organisers were quite pushy and scary. If you were seen not talking to a man you would be pushed towards a man and [they would] say, ‘Look at that man over there, he looks lonely, go and talk to him, you’re being paid to do a job.’”
“A lot of hands were up skirts, I saw a lot of grabbing,” she said.“A lot of hands were up skirts, I saw a lot of grabbing,” she said.
“There were also separate women who came in to the after-party who were wearing red dresses. They were kissing men, quite provocative body language and behaviour towards the men.”“There were also separate women who came in to the after-party who were wearing red dresses. They were kissing men, quite provocative body language and behaviour towards the men.”
The Presidents Club said on Wednesday it would close down and distribute its remaining funds in the light of the revelations.The Presidents Club said on Wednesday it would close down and distribute its remaining funds in the light of the revelations.
Presidents Club scandalPresidents Club scandal
Sexual harassmentSexual harassment
Vince CableVince Cable
Metropolitan policeMetropolitan police
LondonLondon
PolicePolice
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