Tory MEP suggests date rape victim “shares a part of the responsibility”

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Tory MEP Roger Helmer, who infamously suggested that homosexuality could be treated as a mental health problem, has put his foot it in again, suggesting that a date rape victim “shares a part of the responsibility”.

Writing in defence of Ken Clarke on his blog, Helmer is very clear to argue that “rape is always wrong, never defensible, that NO means NO”, yet he still falls into a number of the traps that Clarke fell into, including referring to stanger rape as “classic”. He also describes date rape as follows:

“Imagine that a woman voluntarily goes to her boyfriend’s apartment, voluntarily goes into the bedroom, voluntarily undresses and gets into bed, perhaps anticipating sex, or naïvely expecting merely a cuddle. But at the last minute she gets cold feet and says “Stop!”. The young man, in the heat of the moment, is unable to restrain himself and carries on.”

The language here is unpleasant (“naively” “unable to restrain himself”), but not completely outside of the boundaries of discussion on this issue. What is beyond the pail though is what follows:

“in the second case (date rape) the victim surely shares a part of the responsibility, if only for establishing reasonable expectations in her boyfriend’s mind.”

So in Tory MEP Roger Helmer’s mind, all rape is bad, but somtimes it’s the partially fault of the victim…

You can read Helmer’s blog here.

Update: Over at Liberal Conspiracy, Sunny Hundal reports that Tory MP Louise Bagshawe has described Helmer’s comments as “appalling”. Number Ten have also disowned Helmer, saying:

“This is clearly not the view of the Conservative party or the UK delegation in the European Parliament, and does not reflect the comments made by Ken Clarke.”

Update: Labour’s lead MEP Glenis Willmott had attacked Helmer as an “embarrassment to his party”, saying:

“Conservative MEP Roger Helmer’s comments on rape are highly insensitive and have understandably offended those affected by this repugnant crime. He is an embarrassment to his party and his constituents and must recognise the hurt he has caused.”

Update: Caroline Flint is the latest to join the chorus of disgust over Helmer’s comments. The Guardian quotes her as saying:

“To suggest that the victims of date rape can ‘share responsibility’ for the crime is outrageous. Roger Helmer should apologise immediately.”