A TORY councillor has been suspended after “making a mockery” of women’s fears about male violence in the wake of the disappearance of Sarah Everard.
Mark Deacon, a representative in Plymouth, posted an image of himself in women's clothes in response to proposals for men to be subject to a 6pm curfew in areas where women have been murdered.
The Conservative, donning a black wig and pink floral dress, said that is how he would dress if the restriction was introduced.
The Facebook post read: “If the Green Party and some Labour Party politicians get their way and impose this ridiculous 6pm curfew on men, then I'm going to wear my dress more often.”
The post came in the aftermath of Everard’s disappearance on March 3. Human remains were found on March 10 and formally identified as Everard.
A Metropolitan police officer, Wayne Courzens, has appeared in court charged with her kidnap and murder.
Deacon has since deleted the post and apologised for his actions, but Plymouth Conservative group leader Nick Kelly confirmed on Sunday that he had been suspended with immediate effect.
Everard’s case has prompted a wave of pressure to stop violence against women, with several high-profile politicians floating the idea of a curfew for men in areas where women have been attacked.
SNP Westminster frontbencher Hannah Bardell told the Sunday Times: “I don’t want anyone to have to stay inside because of the actions of a few — let’s not forget much of the violence against women occurs inside and at home — but we may well be at the stage where we need to discuss all the options, even the ones that sound a bit wacky.”
READ MORE: SNP MP says curfew for men should be considered in areas where women are killed
Deacon’s mockery of such suggestions has drawn fierce criticism.
One Twitter user told the councillor he should be “ashamed”. They added: "Couldn't delete this fast enough, it seems."
@plymouthcc Really!? THIS is a PCC Councillor?! Mark Deacon, you should be ashamed of yourself. Couldn't delete this fast enough, it seems. pic.twitter.com/jI7yZWoaRO
— Emma (@Miss_Eastgate_) March 14, 2021
Labour parliamentary candidate for Plymouth Moor View Charlotte Holloway responded on Facebook.
“This morning I have emailed Conservative Cllr for Southway Mark Deacon asking him to urgently delete and apologise for his comments last night,” she wrote.
“I'm so sorry to the female Southway residents who have been the victims of violence who would have to wake up to this individual's lack of decency.
“Great way to spend a Mother's Day morning! What a week.”
Labour Plymouth councillor Sally Haydon added: "It's extremely disappointing to see a senior councillor make a mockery of women's deeply-felt worries about the issue of male violence.
"It is not befitting of the office of councillor and a member of the shadow cabinet of this council to poke fun at concerns of this nature.
"I welcome his suspension and I hope Councillor Deacon will take some time to reflect on the anger his post has generated, to properly understand why it has caused such offence and offer a full apology for his actions."
Deacon has since removed the post and issued an apology for “any upset he may have caused”.
He posted on social media: “I wholeheartedly apologise for the comments that I made on a post this Saturday Afternoon.
“I didn't intend any offence that my comments might have caused to a section of the public.”
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