‘Sexist’ Tory MP appointed to women’s rights committee

An openly anti-feminist Conservative MP has been appointed to the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, which is responsible for holding the Government to account on women’s rights.

Shipley MP Philip Davies, who in August argued that women only wanted equality “when it suits,” was elected to the Select Committee without opposition.

Davies has not only suggested that “feminist zealots really do want women to have their cake and eat it,” but has also actively campaigned for the commemoration of International Men’s Day by the government. In November, he said men had “lost their voice” over recent years, as men have been “neutered” by political correctness.

“Parliament is full of institutional political correctness,” Davies wrote in an article for the Times Red Box.

“When it comes to women, we have a women and equalities minister, a select committee for women and equalities, a women and equalities question time – not to mention the discussion of many strategies that deal only with women in politics and the wider world. In addition, until recently, we have had a big debate on International Women’s Day with no such equivalents for men.”

Both the Committee and the Labour Party commented on Davies’ appointment saying it was a matter for the Conservative Party to address, as he was replacing another Tory member. Select Committees reflect party balance in Parliament and Davies was chosen by his fellow Conservative MPs to fill the spot.

But the appointment did cause a furore on social media, with several self-proclaimed feminists criticizing the move.

“Philip ‘send more women to prison’ Davies elected to Parliament’s women and equalities committee. What could go wrong?” a woman named Caroline Dodds Pennock wrote on Twitter.

Women’s Equality Party leader Sophie Walker also quipped: “I hope Philip Davies plans on bringing feminist cake and eating it. We are watching.”