Nadhim
Zahawi
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Nadhim Zahawi says he was "uncomfortable" about a
male-only event he attended in which women were allegedly
groped and harassed.
The Education minister says he left the event once
women were "introduced".
A Labour peer also attended part of the event but says
he wasn't 'aware' of the men's behaviour.
A spokesman for the prime minister says Zahawi will not
attend again.
LONDON — A government minister who attended a male-only event
where women were allegedly subject to widespread
sexual assaults, has said that he was "uncomfortable" with
the event and left as soon as the women were "introduced" to the
men.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday
that her education minister Nadhim Zahawi "felt uncomfortable"
about the event and left "at the point the hostesses were
introduced by the host."
They added that Zahawi "will not be attending again," and that
"he himself probably regrets the decision to go."
The spokesman said the prime minister was also "uncomfortable"
about the reports of the event, which was attended by leading
figures in politics, finance and the media.
However, the spokesman told Business Insider that May had not
spoken to Zahawi about the event and he was "not aware of any
plans to do so."
Zahawi later condemned the event, tweeting that "I do
unequivocally condemn this behaviour. The report is truly
shocking. I will never attend a men-only function ever."
— Nadhim Zahawi (@nadhimzahawi) January 24, 2018
I do unequivocally condemn this behaviour. The report is truly shocking. I will never attend a men only function ever.
His comments come as a member of the Department of
Education's board, David Meller, stood down over his
co-chairmanship of the event.
"David Meller is stepping down as non-executive member for the
Department for Education and the apprenticeship delivery board,
and I know that the secretary of state is absolutely clear that
this is the right thing to do," the Education Minister Anne
Milton told MPs.
The Labour peer Jonathan Mendelsohn was also at the dinner.
A spokesman for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said that questions
about his appearance "are probably best addressed to
him."
However, they added: "As I understand it, he has said he
was present as a representative of a charity that benefited from
the event but was only present for part of the event, wasn't
aware of this behaviour and completely condemns it."
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