Presidents Club: MPs line up to condemn “slimeball” event as Charity Commission confirms “assessment” into men-only fundraiser
Female MPs have lined up to slam the Presidents’ Club for hosting a “slimeball” charity dinner, as the Charity Commission confirms it is “assessing” allegations.
Conservatives including minister for digital and creative industries Margot James and former minister Maria Miller were among those to criticise the annual fundraiser after an undercover story by the Financial Times lifted the lid on the secretive men-only event. The article alleges that hostesses were dressed in skimpy clothes before being encouraged to drink alcohol and in some cases groped and asked if they were prostitutes.
Women and equalities chair Miller has called for the government to consider tightening legislation to deal with the issues.
She told the Guardian: “British business needs to take a long hard look at itself. How seriously is business taking equality at work if they are still using men only events for entertainment?
“If business leaders are simply paying lip service to equality issues then perhaps it’s time the government gives the Equality Act some real teeth?”
But the issue has cut across party lines.
Labour’s Jess Phillips said there were serious questions to be asked about the fact education minister Nadhim Zahawi had attended the event. He told ITV he had “left early”, adding: “David Walliams was hosting. I didn’t stay long enough to really comment on the occasion.”
Phillips, who has been granted an urgent question on the matter after today’s PMQs, added that money raised from the event should be donated to sexual violence services.
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson dubbed it “simply stomach churning”, adding that it showed “what a rotten, sexist culture is still alive and kicking in parts of the business community”.
More than 300 rich businessmen were perfectly happy to attend such an event, which shows what a rotten, sexist culture is still alive and kicking in parts of the business community. Time’s up on this crap. 💩— Jo Swinson (@joswinson) January 23, 2018
I hear you have written to the Charities Commission about the slimeball’s “charity event” last night @joswinson week done, please add my name— Margot James (@margot_james_mp) January 24, 2018
Let’s hope every man who attended this event will think twice before accepting another invitation to a ‘men only’ event with more than 100 female hostesses and an ad in the event brochure that states sexual harasment of staff is unacceptable ….https://t.co/PTrRx9UYEG— Maria_Miller (@MariaMillerUK) January 24, 2018
Every penny raised at the gropey event should’ve donated to children and adult sexual violence services— Jess Phillips (@jessphillips) January 24, 2018
The event has already started to suffer the results of the scoop, with Great Ormond Street saying it will return all donations, while Sir Martin Sorrel’s marketing giant WPP has also cut ties.
Tracy Howarth, head of regulatory compliance at the Charity Commission, said: “The public hold charities to the highest standards, both in what they do and how they go about it. They will rightly be dismayed by the reports they have read today and will consider that the alleged behaviour has no place being taken in the name of charity, whether raising funds for good causes or not. 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 are aware of concerns reported by the Financial Times about the Presidents’ Club Charity Dinner. We are assessing these allegations as a matter of urgency and will be contacting the Presidents Club Charitable Trust.”