Labour parliamentary candidate for South Dorset, Simon Bowkett, has called on Richard Drax MP to apologise, after the MP’s comments defending Page 3 pictures caught the attention of the national press.
Replying to a letter from a constituent who had asked Mr Drax his views on the daily topless photos of young women in the Sun, the MP replied:
‘… While I understand some people are offended at seeing naked breasts, this particular page is something of a national institution, providing the girls with a job and Sun readers with some light and harmless entertainment.’
The comments were reported by The Daily Telegraph, whose reporter questioned Mr Drax’s judgement.
Labour’s PPC for South Dorset, Simon Bowkett, said: “These comments are crass, offensive and demonstrate just how out of touch and unreformed the Tory Party remains. I have two daughters growing up locally and, at a time of record long-term youth unemployment under this Government, I would have hoped that the MP who represents them would have higher aspirations for young women than a career being objectified in such a way.”
Simon continued by saying: “By writing to Mr Drax, this South Dorset constituent sought her MP’s support to end a practice that creates a culture in which it is acceptable for women to be harassed. Instead, she was told that the treatment of women’s bodies as commodities is just ‘harmless entertainment’.”
“South Dorset needs an MP and local councillors that have ambition and aspiration for the area – we need a plan to create growth and jobs. To somehow suggest that Page 3 is a “job creating industry” and a “national institution” is not only an insult to young women, but also to the many people in the constituency that expect to see their MP standing up for them, and creating real, sustainable jobs. I would ask Mr Drax to admit that he got these flippant comments badly wrong, and to apologise.”
Tashi Warr, a local woman and Labour member has also added her voice to calls for Mr Drax to apologise.
“The No More Page 3 campaign recognises the serious damage caused by the continuous objectification of the female body. Sexual harassment and assault are widespread in the UK with 1 in 5 women in England and Wales experiencing some form of sexual violence, and the Prime Minister himself has expressed concern that children are being increasingly exposed to a sexualised culture. The treatment of women as commodities, such as that by Page 3, only serves to further the notion that women are sexual objects for men’s entertainment rather than human beings.
“Mr Drax is out of touch with women, with his constituents, and – it would seem – with his own Prime Minister.”
Over 120,000 people have signed the petition calling for an end to Page 3:
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/david-dinsmore-take-the-bare-boobs-out-of-the-sun-nomorepage3
