Women Are Responding To Geoffrey Boycott’s Knighthood In The Best Possible Way

Former England cricketer and convicted domestic abuser Geoffrey Boycott stated yesterday that he ‘does not give a toss’ about criticism from Women’s Aid following the announcement of his knighthood. Boycott was one of many people honoured by Theresa May as part of her Resignation Honours list, despite her claims to be a supporter of survivors of domestic abuse. Now, women are donating to Women's Aid in response to the decision, citing his name as their reason.

Appearing on the Today Programme, Boycott was asked by presenter Martha Kearney why he had not received a knighthood sooner, suggesting it was because of his domestic abuse conviction. ‘[That was] twenty-five years ago, love,’ he responded. ‘In a French court, she tried to blackmail me for £1 million. I said no, because in England if you pay any money at all, we think: “Hang on, there must be something there.” I said: “I’m not paying anything.”’

Boycott was convicted of assault in 1998 when his former girlfriend Margaret Moore accused him of punching her in the face 20 times during an argument while on holiday on the French Riveria. He denied the accusation, claiming that she simply fell over, however during his second trail – after he refused to show for the first - it was concluded that her injuries could not have been sustained in the way Boycott alleged.

Dr. Thierry Morhet – who examined Moore – testified she had a swollen and black eye that was completely closed and a bruise as large as a pigeons egg on her forehead, as well as damage to her wrist and index finger. Following the trail, where 21 witnesses testified and photographs of Moore’s bruises were shared, Boycott was given a three-month suspended sentence, and fined £5,300. He was sacked from his commentating positions with the BBC and The Sun.

However, his career continued to flourish overseas and just three years later, he was rehired as a writer for various British newspapers – he has continued his commentating career ever since. In his own words, ‘most people in England don’t believe’ he committed the act. ‘Most people are nice to me,’ he told Kearney, ‘they walk past me and say “morning Geoffrey”, I say “morning love, nice to see you” and that’s how it’s always going to be.’

Women’s Aid co-chief executive Adina Claire said today that ‘it’s a tragedy a convicted perpetrator has been honoured in this way’.

It’s a classic, tired tale – a man is convicted of abusing a woman but his convictions are forgotten, his career flourishes and he goes on to receive one of the highest honours in this country.

‘I actually was in Downing Street the week before [Theresa May] left office and congratulated her on the legacy of the Domestic Abuse Bill,’ Adina Claire told Victoria Derbyshire this morning. ‘It just is a tragedy that a convicted domestic abuser has been honoured in this way. It sends the completely wrong message.’

May has long been a huge advocate for Boycott, comparing herself to him when she was trying to get a Brexit deal saying, 'Geoffrey Boycott stuck to it and got the runs in the end.’ And while there has been fierce backlash to her choice to honour him, there has also been plenty of support.

‘A massive congratulations to two England cricket legends,’ England Cricket tweeted about him and Andrew Strauss, to thousands of likes. He appeared on Good Morning Britain to an unsurprising wave of support from Piers Morgan, with Giles Coren also critising the Today Programme for ‘ambushing’ him on air.

There is a very clear problem here, and it’s not just with his knighthood. The fact that a man can abuse his partner and maintain so much wealth, respect and prestige sends a chilling message at a time when two women are still killed every week by their partners. It’s time men received actual consequences for domestic abuse, not honours of the highest order.

If you want to follow the lead of these amazing women and donate to Women's Aid too, click here to get involved.

Read More: All of the powerful men accused of sexual assault