Shaun Bailey, the Conservative London mayoral candidate running against Labour's Sadiq Khan, has angered factions this week after controversial comments of his were unearthed.
According to an archived post on the Conservative Women’s Organisation website he said ending domestic violence ‘starts with girls’ and girls should ‘accept less of men’s rubbish’ to avoid domestic violence.
The remarks were made at an event on gang culture in 2008, when he was a parliamentary candidate for Hammersmith, and unearthed by the Guardian today. According to a report of his comments, he told attendees at the event that men would ‘always be involved in violence’ and that ‘the repair starts with girls, because if you could get girls to accept less of men’s rubbish then men would have to change because ultimately men are after a girl. Men’s behaviour is affected by what he feels it is to be a man and what he feels will impress a girl.’
Labour has criticised the remarks and called them victim blaming, with Rupa Huq, Labour MP for Ealing Central and Acton, commenting that ‘someone with Bailey’s hard right attitudes should simply never have the opportunity to lead a city that counts more than 4 million women and girls among its population.’
She said his ‘long history of talking women down is completely at odds with London’s open, modern and progressive values.’
The Tory London mayoral candidate was also criticised recently for a tweet in the wake of Sarah Everard’s killing that appeared to politicise and exploit her death for his electoral gain.
He wrote: 'As a father and husband it breaks me to think that my wife and daughter have to live in fear in their own city. It doesn’t have to be this way. As Mayor, I‘ll ensure that we are working to deliver for the safety of women and girls in London.'
The London mayoral election is taking place on Thursday 6 May, next week, with Labour’s Sadiq Khan looking likely to secure a second term. Polls will open at 7am and close at 10pm, with a result not likely until Saturday 8 May.
A campaign spokesperson for Bailey told the Guardian: ‘Once again Labour are taking old comments out of context. Shaun’s point, emphasised repeatedly, was that the only way to end domestic violence is to change the behaviour of men – exactly what women are saying, not to mention Sadiq Khan.
‘If Labour want to talk about the issues, then let’s start with Sadiq Khan’s admission that London isn’t safe for women and girls. While Sadiq Khan offers just words, Shaun Bailey has a plan: 1,000 more police to tackle violence against women and girls, 24/7 foot patrols in dangerous areas, and more CCTV across the transport network to catch perpetrators.’