“UKIP are a bunch of middle-aged sexist men.” Labour MEP attacks Godfrey Bloom over ‘slut’ comments

Female Labour figures have attacked UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom over his sexist comments today at Labour Women’s Conference. Yesterday Godfrey Bloom had the whip withdrawn from him after he told female UKIP activists ‘you’re all sluts,’ and later hit a male journalist over the head with the UKIP conference book.

Godfrey Bloom MEP was named and shamed by Bonnie Greer, panellist at Labour Women’s ‘Everyday Sexism’ event, as yet another example of sexism in politics. The UKIP figure earned a second mention from Mary Honeyball, Labour MEP and long-time critic of Mr Bloom, who said:

“It’s important we challenge Godfrey Bloom over his actions. UKIP are a bunch of middle-aged sexist men and they are appalling.”

The Labour MEP wrote on her website that this was just the ‘tip of the iceberg’ when it came to UKIP sexism, citing Mr Bloom’s earlier remarks that businesses should not take on women ‘of childbearing age’. Mary’s angry comments about UKIP’s sexism won a round of applause from the packed audience of female Labour activists during the Everyday Sexism session.

Many women named other examples of sexism, in a panel devoted to discussing misogyny in politics and public life. Julie Morgan, Labour Welsh Assembly Member, said that only 30 female Labour PPCs have stood in Wales since 1918, and that Labour women participating in Welsh selections faced serious sexism from fellow male members. Meanwhile Labour PPC for Gloucester, Sophie Gardiner, said she was battling against sexism from the local Tory MP, Richard Graham, who told a local newspaper:

“If you are a young woman on her own trying to walk back home through Gloucester Park, early in the morning in a tight, short skirt and high shoes and there’s a predator and if you are blind drunk and wearing those clothes how able are you to get away?”

Members of the audience cited some positive examples of women empowering communities in politics, including the Save Lewisham A&E protest group, who have a steering committee of 22 members, 75% of them women. But all three women on the panel agreed that there was much still to do to tackle sexism in everyday life. Panellist and author Melissa Benn, said, “we’ve got a lot of work to do. There is so much wrong with our society.”