#MeToo continues to out slimeballs, this time in the UK.
Back in January, a scandal enveloped the President’s Club in Britain, a charity patronised by billionaire Sir Philip Green.
In the wake of the #MeToo movement, it was revealed that contrary to the philanthropic intentions of the annual fundraising dinner at The Dorchester Hotel, the event was in effect, a hotbed of sexual harassment.
Roughly 130 women, who were hired to work as ‘hostesses’ at the all-male event, spent the night getting groped bullied and propositioned by a room full of middle-aged men, reports the Daily Mail.
One poor girl said a guest had exposed his penis to her, while eating his dinner. Another was propositioned by a ‘society figure’ who declared: ‘I want you to down that glass, rip off your knickers, and dance on that table.’
At the disco later, several dozen high-end escort girls were ushered onto the dance floor, all wearing scarlet dresses.
This event, attended by Sir Philip Green, is just one case in a string of sexual harassment and bullying accusations that have been made against the Topshop tycoon ((below with Harvey Weinstein).
Given that we have previously reported on Green’s rather foul mouth, we ain’t surprised.
In recent news, he has been named as the businessman at the centre of the ‘British #MeToo scandal’.
The ‘British #MeToo scandal’ broke when multiple accusations of sexual assault and bullying were brought against a mystery “leading businessman” by five of his employees.
The court of appeals in the UK barred the media from publishing any “confidential information”. The five employees were also bound by a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
According to The Guardian, after days of speculation, MP Peter Hain (below) used the Lords Speech to out Green in Parliament.
Parliamentary privilege is an ancient right allowing MPs to say what they wish in the parliamentary chambers without being sued for libel. That privilege has traditionally been used by the media to report on what was said.
The Liberal Democratic leader, Vince Cable, also called for Green’s knighthood to be revoked. Chair of the work and pensions select committee, Frank Field (below) says that the charge sheet against Green’s knighthood is growing.
“I have been talking this evening with somebody who witnessed grotesque bullying at work,” he said. “They would like for what they witnessed to be shared, through the House of Commons, with the nation.”
He said a mechanism allowing MPs to speak on behalf of victims would “develop the role of the House of Commons in a way which stands up for people who have little money, against those who have much.”
The decision as to whether Green’s knighthood will be revoked if the allegations are proved rests with the honours forfeiture committee, which can consider a case when it is referred by the prime minister.
In the interim, the shadow women and equalities secretary, Dawn Butler, said Labour would reform the use of NDAs unless the government did so first.
“If the current law doesn’t protect the voices of survivors, the next Labour government will legislate to do so.”
…A report from the women and equalities committee in July recommended that NDAs “must be better controlled and regulated” and that lawyers must be held to account if they used them unethically. Earlier this year the Solicitors Regulation Authority warned its members against inappropriate use of the agreements.
Knighthood or no knighthood, I’m sure that we can all agree that Green should be in jail.
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