Tuesday, November 5, 2024

News Feed Comments
You are here: Home / Latest Lingerie News / Tory councillor Richard Davies apologises for posting lingerie pic

Tory councillor Richard Davies apologises for posting lingerie pic

March 26, 2014 by  
Filed under Latest Lingerie News

Leave a Comment
  • Richard Davies, 35, was discussing Labour All Women Shortlists (AWS)
  • He tweeted photo of women in underwear to Lincoln MP, Karl McCartney
  • The Conservative county councillor wrote: ‘Actual photo of the hustings?’
  • Labour candidate Lucy Rigby, 31, said tweet showed ‘demeaning attitude’
  • Mr Davies apologised to Ms Rigby and deleted his message from Twitter

By
Harriet Arkell


PUBLISHED:

08:05 EST, 25 March 2014


|
UPDATED:

14:36 EST, 25 March 2014

A Conservative county councillor has apologised after posting a picture of scantily-clad models on Twitter and comparing it to the selection of a female Labour candidate.

Richard Davies, 35, posted the photo of lingerie-clad women during a discussion about Labour’s all-women shortlists, which resulted in Lucy Rigby, 31, being picked as prospective MP for Lincoln.

He sent the picture to Lincoln’s Conservative MP, Karl McCartney, with the comment: ‘Actual photo of the hustings?’

But the picture was seen by Ms Rigby,
who retweeted it to her 4,870 followers with the message: ‘And people
wonder why aren’t more women in politics?’

Offensive? Richard Davies tweeted this photograph of women in underwear to Lincoln MP, Karl McCartney

Offensive? Richard Davies tweeted this photograph of women in underwear to Lincoln MP, Karl McCartney

Lincolnshire Conservative councillor Mr Davies, 35, has apologised after comparing a photo of lingerie-clad women to Labour's All Women Shortlists

Angry: Labour party candidate for Lincoln, Lucy Rigby, 31, said Mr Davies' tweet was 'pathetic' and 'sexist'

The Lincolnshire county councillor apologised after Labour candidate Lucy Rigby, 31, said his tweet was sexist

The Labour Party candidate, who will fight the Lincoln seat in next year’s General Election, said Mr Davies’ tweet was ‘pathetic’ and ‘sexist’.

Ms Rigby added: ‘It is sad and entirely wrong that there appears to be, still, some sections of the Conservative Party that have these attitudes towards women and women working in politics.

‘It’s sad they want to demean women so publicly… comparing the selection of a female MP to an underwear modelling competition is pretty pathetic’.

She added: ‘I think there are certainly some people who would prefer not to have them [AWS, or All Women Shortlists].  Quite a few people in the Labour Party would prefer not to have them.

‘I happen to think they’re necessary to get more women into politics.’

Mr Davies, a member of the county council’s executive and chairman of the Grantham and Stamford Conservative Association, took the photo down from his Twitter page and apologised, saying: ‘I never meant to cause individual concern or upset and for that I apologise.

‘But it opens up a point of real sexism and discrimination and, dare I say it, a condescending attitude to the voters of Lincoln.’

The row also prompted a demand for an apology from Labour councillor Rosanne Kirk, who stood against Ms Rigby during the selection process in 2012.

Ms Rigby, a former solicitor, said Mr Davies had a 'demeaning and rather sad' attitude towards women

Ms Rigby, a former solicitor, said Mr Davies had a ‘demeaning and rather sad’ attitude towards women

She tweeted to Mr Davies: ‘We need
more women in politics, but your photo tweet last night proves what we
have to deal with. Please apologise. Thank you.

He
replied saying: ‘Having reflected on this I think I was wrong to post
that photo. AWS [All Women Shortlists] is sexist but glamour pics don’t
help. Sorry if I upset you.’

Twitter users were divided on the issue.

Richard
Enderby wrote to the Conservative: ‘You have brought attention to a
disgraceful and undemocratic thing and I for one am grateful.

‘I hope voters in constituencies where a candidate has been selected using positive discrimination remember that when voting.’

And Nigel Sparky wrote: ‘A tongue in cheek tweet, which obviously refers to what he and many others I would think perceive to be the good looks of the lady in question…

‘Would it be Labour wanting to jump on it to try to score some political points?’

But Sue Burke tweeted: ‘I’m reading Emily Pankhurst’s story and the rubbish they had to deal with to get women the vote.

‘Sorry to hear that women are still being disrespected by some politicians.’


Comments (38)

Share what you think

The comments below have not been moderated.

Time for revolution,

Stockton, United Kingdom,

21 minutes ago

Stupid thing to do but there is no way that picture can be described as lewd

Sarah,

Melbourne, Australia,

24 minutes ago

There are still not enough women in politics which is the point here that many have missed so to put that photo up is indeed demeaning.

expat,

auckland,

37 minutes ago

Why is it if men had an all male list it would be deemed sexist and there would be one holy row. But when women have an all women list the would sexist doesn’t seem to be that all important. Why?

Smujsmith,

Pig-atop-the-hill, United Kingdom,

56 minutes ago

Once more, the nasty party living up to its billing. No workable policies, a record of policy U turns by the number one snake oil salesman, and all you have left is distracting trivia like this. Rest assured, had this been a UKIP smear attack, the toffs would be crawling up walls to have them “exposed” by the press. It’s a shame that these old, failed parties are ending their days looking like the parties of trivia, rather than national governance.

Robert Esquire,

Tamworth, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

I don’t like male politicians wearing female under garments. I would never buy the calendar.

Jiohn Germanq,

Reading,

2 hours ago

There’s not much worse than a female Labour politician.

Noone,

sacramento, United States,

2 hours ago

Oh no, Oh God no, not that. Give me a break.

wolfshead,

Cheltenham, United Kingdom,

2 hours ago

Who would vote Labour when their benches are packed with humourless feminists bent on demonising people who don’t support neo-puritanical tendencies.

John Cosgrave,

Cork, Ireland,

2 hours ago

The only surprising thing is that he is a Tory rather than UKIP….

Anonymous,

Nowhere on sea, United Kingdom,

2 hours ago

Another reason not to vote con or lab.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Who is this week’s top commenter?
Find out now

Share and Enjoy

Tags:

Featured Products

Comments are closed.