100 signatures reached
To: Cllr Tina Knight & Saffron Walden Constituency Conservative Association
Remove Tina Knight as Conservative Councillor for Uttlesford
We call on Tina Knight, District Councillor for Uttlesford, to stand down following her outrageous comments on BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine Show last week relating to the sexual harassment of women in the workplace.
If Cllr Knight does not resign herself, we call on the Saffron Walden Conservative Association to dismiss her as its representative.
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If Cllr Knight does not resign herself, we call on the Saffron Walden Conservative Association to dismiss her as its representative.
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Why is this important?
Last week, Cllr Tina Knight was interviewed on BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine Show about allegations of sexual harassment at the Presidents Club event in London.
Amongst her many distasteful comments in defence of the event, Cllr Knight said she found allegations of sexual assault to be 'hilarious'. She labelled waitresses who allegedly experienced such harassment "airheads" who should have expected unwanted sexual advances when they took the job. She says that this kind of sexual harassment in the workplace is "...not a crime...What annoys me is this belittles real sexual harassment... when somebody can’t deal with a drunken man." This is wholly unacceptable and we do not believe Cllr Knight is qualified to opine on what constitutes sexual assault.
In addition, she disparaged our local rugby club by implying their behaviour matches that of attendees at the Presidents Club event, despite offering no evidence in support.
The full interview can be listened to here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09mrt53
Cllr Knight was elected to represent the views of local residents. However, the message she is giving to the people of Uttlesford is that sexual harassment is something they should expect to deal with in the workplace.
We do not believe Cllr Knight properly represents the views of the local community and is therefore not fit to hold office.
Following the furore generated by her comments, Cllr Knight has been asked to step down as Chair of the Standards Committee, with a decision to be made at the next full council meeting on 22 February. We suggest this action does not go anywhere near far enough. We deserve better from our elected officials and believe the only option is for Cllr Knight to step down from her role as councillor.
Further information on the story can be read here: -https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jan/30/tory-councillor-steps-down-presidents-club-dinner-remarks-tina-knight
http://www.dunmowbroadcast.co.uk/news/uttlesford-councillor-who-said-presidents-club-female-staff-should-have-known-what-they-were-in-for-is-asked-to-step-down-1-5374240
Amongst her many distasteful comments in defence of the event, Cllr Knight said she found allegations of sexual assault to be 'hilarious'. She labelled waitresses who allegedly experienced such harassment "airheads" who should have expected unwanted sexual advances when they took the job. She says that this kind of sexual harassment in the workplace is "...not a crime...What annoys me is this belittles real sexual harassment... when somebody can’t deal with a drunken man." This is wholly unacceptable and we do not believe Cllr Knight is qualified to opine on what constitutes sexual assault.
In addition, she disparaged our local rugby club by implying their behaviour matches that of attendees at the Presidents Club event, despite offering no evidence in support.
The full interview can be listened to here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09mrt53
Cllr Knight was elected to represent the views of local residents. However, the message she is giving to the people of Uttlesford is that sexual harassment is something they should expect to deal with in the workplace.
We do not believe Cllr Knight properly represents the views of the local community and is therefore not fit to hold office.
Following the furore generated by her comments, Cllr Knight has been asked to step down as Chair of the Standards Committee, with a decision to be made at the next full council meeting on 22 February. We suggest this action does not go anywhere near far enough. We deserve better from our elected officials and believe the only option is for Cllr Knight to step down from her role as councillor.
Further information on the story can be read here: -https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jan/30/tory-councillor-steps-down-presidents-club-dinner-remarks-tina-knight
http://www.dunmowbroadcast.co.uk/news/uttlesford-councillor-who-said-presidents-club-female-staff-should-have-known-what-they-were-in-for-is-asked-to-step-down-1-5374240
