Complaint lodged over vice chairman’s remarks at International Women’s Day event in Northampton
Women’s group says councillor made “deeply offensive and sexist” comments during celebration
A women’s group in Northamptonshire has lodged a complaint with the council over “abhorrent” remarks about gender made by the vice chairman of the council at an International Women’s Day event this weekend.
The Northants Women’s Empowerment Group has said a “series of deeply offensive and sexist remarks” were made by Reform UK councillor Peter York during the event, held by West Northants Council (WNC) at the Northampton Guildhall, on Saturday, March 7.
Speaking to a fellow WNC councillor and some members of the public at the event about the need for more women in leadership positions, Cllr York allegedly said that ‘some women should have never left the kitchen’.
Former Conservative councillor James Hill said the vice chair then went on to criticise the current government’s cabinet for having too many women and ‘what they have done to the country’, when asked if he was being serious.
The formal complaint submitted by the Northants women’s group, which the LDRS has seen, said that the comment was not “an isolated slip of the tongue” and that Cllr York chose to “double down” on his position when challenged.
‘A gross betrayal of the spirit of International Women’s Day’
Representatives of the Northants Women’s Empowerment Group, Hannah Martin and Laura Wright, wrote: “We find these views abhorrent, but their delivery at an event specifically designed to celebrate women’s achievements makes them particularly damaging. It is a gross betrayal of the spirit of International Women’s Day for a high-ranking council official to use the platform to demean women’s professional contributions.
“Our concerns are significantly heightened by the fact that Cllr York is set to become the Chair of West Northamptonshire Council this May. It is deeply worrying that someone holding such archaic and discriminatory views.
“At a time when West Northants Council has been publicly called out for having only one woman in a cabinet team of ten, such behaviour from the leadership fosters a toxic environment that discourages women from entering local politics.”
At the time of publication, Cllr York and WNC leader Mark Arnull have not responded to requests for comment from the LDRS, however in previous reporting from NN Journal, the vice chairman apologised for any offence taken from his comments, but added that he was “provoked” and that it was “taken entirely out of context”.
Cllr Arnull also said that the incident had been investigated and that he was “satisfied that this was a result of political point scoring from an opposition member”.
The women’s group said the responses from the Reform councillors “further illustrates a failure to grasp the severity of the harm caused to women”. They have requested WNC’s monitoring officer conduct a full investigation into whether Cllr York breached the code of conduct.
Lib Dem councillor Farzana Aldridge, who was part of the conversation when the comment was made, has also refuted claims that it was “political point scoring”, saying that she had simply responded to questions from a journalist about what she had heard.
She added: “It was in the context of an International Women’s Day celebration and the conversation was about women being in positions of power. I was not in a position to say anything different because I was there and I heard it.”
‘Views like that are not welcome in today’s society’
James Hill also said he “could not believe his ears” when he heard the comment being made at the weekend.
On the claims that Cllr York’s words had been ‘taken out of context’, he added: “What is the context where it is correct to say that anyway? The context was being completely tone deaf and missing the point of the event, and then going up to present an award.
“I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he doubled down. I think there’s a legitimate question to be asked on whether he is suitable to be the chairmain of the council.”
Anna King is the joint chair of the West Northants Women’s Forum and helped to set up the International Women’s Day event for the county over ten years ago. She did not hear the comment directly, but told the LDRS: “I think it was a most inappropriate comment to make, especially from someone in position of vice chairman – a role that is looked up to and should be of exemplary character.
“I really think Cllr York should reflect on his comments and the offence it has caused to those who witnessed it first hand. Views like that are not welcome in today’s society and to be aired at an International Women’s Day event shows a complete lack of respect.
“It’s just a lack of respect for anybody present, a lack of respect for the building the event was held in, and a lack of respect for the position of vice chair.”