UK politics - as it happened: Presidents Club to close after widespread criticism in wake of sexual harassment claims
Pressure mounts on government figures who attended controversial all-male event
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Your support makes all the difference.Politicians lined up to condemn alleged inappropriate behaviour at the Presidents Club dinner after claims that a number of women were sexually harassed at the male-only event.
Trustees of the charity have announced it is to close with no further fundraising events planned and the remaining funds shared among charities.
Pressure is mounting on government minister Nadhim Zahawi, who attended the event. There have been calls for the education minister to resign, but Theresa May's spokesman said the Prime Minister had no plans to talk to him about his attendance at the dinner.
Mr Zahawi said he felt uncomfortable at the dinner and left early. He will not be attending male-only events in future, he added.
Earlier in the day, David Davis was grilled by MPs as he gave evidence to the Brexit Select Committee.
The Brexit Secretary was asked about the next round of negotiations with EU leaders, which begin in March, and the Government's plan for a transitional period before Britain leaves the EU.
He confirmed that the UK would remain in the single market "in operational terms" during the transitional period, the details of which he said would be agreed by the end of March. In a move likely to anger many Tory MPs, he also confirmed that Britain would have to abide by the rulings of European courts during that time.
This afternoon, Labour will try to force the Government to release the risk assessments it carried out before granting major public contracts to the construction firm Carillion, which collapsed earlier this month.
The tactic proved successful in forcing the Government to give MPs access to its Brexit impact assessments late last year.
Outside the Commons chamber, Tory MP Maria Miller, chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, has criticised her colleague, Nadhim Zahawi, for attending the Presidents Dinner.
She told Sky News she has written to the Conservaitve Party to ask officials to review how they decide whether government ministers should attend a particular event.
"I don't believe he should have gone to an event that was all men networking for business at a time when the Government is doing so much to encourage women to take senior roles in business," she said.
Ms Miller said the Government was right to have "swiftly" removed David Mellor from his role at the Department for Education.
The Prime Minister's spokesperson has just said Theresa May was "uncomfortable" at the allegations about the Presidents Dinner.
He added: "Clearly this is an event to which she would not be invited."
In relation to education minister Nadhim Zahawi, who attended the dinner, the spokesman said: "My understanding is that Mr Zahawi did attend the event. He has said himself that he said he felt uncomfortable at it and left at the point at which the hostesses were introduced by the host”."
The Prime Minister has not spoken to Mr Zahawi about the matter and has no plans to do so, he added.
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A bit more from Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi, who attended the Presidents Dinner at which woman were allegedly harrassed. He's tweeted this:
https://twitter.com/nadhimzahawi/status/956156653950382080
John McDonnell has issued a typically strongly-worded statement as he heads to the World Economic Forum in Davos. The Shadow Chancellor warned the "global elite" that they will "raise the price they pay" if they fail to accept that "change is coming". He said:
“I am going to Davos with a warning for the global elite.
“Many of those attending the World Economic Forum have been patting themselves on the back as international growth figures have begun to pick up.
“But they should be worried. In the real world, outside the Davos bubble of Alpine restaurants and chalets, the global economic system they have built isn’t working for billions of people.
“And just as Davos faces the risk of an avalanche this week, growth for a few risks a political and social avalanche unless there is fundamental change to our rigged economic system.
“In the depths of a recession people focus on getting by. But when they are told things are getting better and see no evidence of it in their own lives, they begin to demand real change.
“In country after country people have suffered a decade of austerity since the crash of 2008. They know austerity was a con trick when they see that the wealth of the super-rich has doubled and banks and corporations have been rewarded with tax cuts.
“Ordinary people have worked hard to dig us out a slump they didn’t cause, as they have been forced to accept low wages and long hours while paying off the costs of the crisis with their taxes.
“What did they get in return? Their public services cut and sold off, soaring pay and bonuses at the very top and tax dodging on an industrial scale, exposed by the Panama and Paradise papers.
“So my warning is this. If the current system isn’t radically changed and its rules rewritten, people are not going to put up with it.
“Real change to the system is Labour’s mission, one we share with parties and movements all over the world. The real wealth creators - that means all of us, not just those with offshore bank accounts - must share in the prosperity we all create.
“To achieve that, we must launch a global drive against tax dodging and financial secrecy, for democratic control over our economy and to protect our planet.
“The Davos few have hoarded power and wealth and failed the many. If they stand in the way of the change that’s needed, they risk raising the price they pay. Change is coming either way.”
Here's more, from Joe Watts, on the news that the chairman of the Presidents Club has resigned from his role at the Department for Education
It has been reported that tea with Mark Carney was one of the prizes at the Presidents Club dinner auction - and the Bank of England governor isn't happy about it... The Bank has just released this statement:
“The Bank of England wishes to reiterate that it was not aware of the Presidents Club Dinner and did not approve any prize for auction at the event. It has had no contact at any point with the Presidents Club or any of the organisers of the event.
The Governor is deeply dismayed that such an event could take place.
At the request of the previous Lord Mayor, the Bank agreed to donate a tour of the Bank to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal for their charity auction. The Lord Mayor’s Appeal works with businesses, local communities and charities to find solutions to some of London’s most pressing social issues.
The Bank understands that the successful bidder in the Lord Mayor’s auction subsequently re-auctioned this prize at the Presidents Club Dinner. He did not consult or contact the Bank in any way before doing so. If he had, the Bank would have refused permission. The Bank has a clear policy on the charities with which it is associated and this does not include the Presidents Club.
The unauthorised re-auctioning of the prize at the Presidents Club dinner was clearly against the spirit of the original donation. The Bank has therefore made clear that it has been withdrawn.”
Maria Miller, the chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, has called on the Government to toughen laws to help protect women from harassment.
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?”
More, from Ashley Cowburn, on John McDonnell's pre-Davos warning to the "global elite":
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