Green Party election candidate for South Thanet , Ian
Driver, declined an invitation to speak
at a parliamentary hustings meeting held
in Broadstairs last night because it was men only.
The meeting, organised by the Ramsgate Round Table, was attended
by UKIPs Nigel Farage, Tory Craig McInlay and LibDem Russ Timpson.
“Whilst I have great admiration for the work of the Round
Table and their charitable fundraising, my principles do
not allow me to attend hustings events which
exclude women, men, disabled people, minority
ethnic groups or LGBT people” said
Driver.
UKIP’s Nigel Farage appeared to be making fun of Driver (and Labour’s
absent candidate who failed to provide organisers with an explanation for his
no-show) by tweeting a photo showing defaced pictures of the absent candidates in front of their empty seats.
“I provided a full explanation for my non-attendance to the
Ramsgate Round Table” said Driver. “If Farage and the Round
Table think standing
up for women’s equality is funny and something to make joke about then I pity
them”.
“It’s a well known fact that UKIP and Farage are less than sympathetic
to gender equality issues , but I am
very surprised and disappointed by the actions of the Round Table. Despite their claim to be a
non-political organisation, their juvenile prank with the defaced pictures of the absent candidates, was an effort
to ridicule my principled decision not to
speak at a men only hustings meeting. Their response suggests to me that
they might share UKIPs testosterone fuelled misogyny” Thanet Round Table appear to me o be #solastcentury.
“Women in South
Thanet earn on average £107 per week less than men. They are more likely to be
living in poverty than men. They face the highest rates of domestic violence in
Kent. To exclude them from a meeting of parliamentary hopefuls who may be legislating
on issues which will effect women is frankly
unfair, especially when they make up a majority (51.8%) of Thanet’s population”.
Its time that Farage, McInlay, Timpson and Ramsgate Round
Table stopped being so last century and accept that gender equality is a
serious matter.
Last summer Driver’s daughter Suzie launched a one-girl, disguised protest outside
Broadstair’s men-only Comrades Club.
You sound just like David Cameron avoiding the TV debate issue
ReplyDeleteWell said Ian! Bunch of bigoted fools who seem to think singling people out is acceptable. I find it incredibly insulting.
ReplyDeleteI've seen that man in the photograph before somewhere? I seem to remember him passing a brown envelope to another bloke?
ReplyDeleteOh btw Ian, I forgot to mention - If the Roundtablers would like to donate some cash for our "Gay In Thanet Seaside Shelter Restoration Appeal" I would be grateful if a representative would kindly contact me via the email address on my profile page on my blog. Thanks ;-)
ReplyDeleteWell said Ian who is the Chair of the RoundTable organising this sort of masonic misogny and defacing the photos when perfectly fair explanation was given?
ReplyDeleteIs it always men only?
Er, if you go to the men's one it is. However the women's groups have women in them. Amazing.
DeleteEr, why are there men or women only Roundtables? That's the point of Ian's sexism comments. While on the girl Guides point below they have their own organisation because it was boys only at first and they wanted to do boys stuff and girls stuff. Some of the activities such as sport would be more biased to physically stronger boys. Hence as adults there are women football teams etc. That isn't sexist but men only groups for business/politics is - why is there a need for that in the 21st century?
DeleteI certainly wouldn't join the Roundtable if there is this weird men only groups, regardless of the childish candidate photos activity.
That has to be the lamest excuse yet for not standing up and explaining yourself to the electorate.
ReplyDeleteHave you been taking lessons in avoiding debates from Mr Cameron?
Anoymous 14:19 - what a snide little remark. Thank god there are local politicians like Ian who are willing to stand up for equality. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteerm do you think "cast iron dave" is standing up for equality by not not taking part in the TV debates then ??
DeleteGirl guides is girls only...Why because they don't want to do boy stuff and end up being scouts...
ReplyDeleteWould you turn down a request by the girl guides to turn up to debate night?
Are you also aware the Roundtable do have women branches.
Total cop out.
ReplyDeleteWhy did you accept their invitation in the first place then pull out on the day?
ReplyDeleteYou accepted first - but discovered your "principles" at the last moment.
ReplyDelete