Opinion

Allison Morris: Boris Johnson row exposes ugly side of a party with questionable attitude towards women

Boris Johnson is expected to secure the leadership of the Conservative party and become Prime Minister. Picture by Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
Boris Johnson is expected to secure the leadership of the Conservative party and become Prime Minister. Picture by Jonathan Brady/PA Wire Boris Johnson is expected to secure the leadership of the Conservative party and become Prime Minister. Picture by Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

It has not been the best week for wannabe prime minister Boris Johnson or Tory party members in general.

While the ongoing Brexit shambles continues to dominate the debate, it is the attitude towards women of Tory members and supporters in general that has been particularly enlightening.

For a party that has twice been led by a woman the attitude of members towards females has been grim to say the least.

MP Mark Field showed a complete lack of restraint when he manhandled a Green Peace protester at a posh dinner in Mansion House last Thursday.

A video of the event shows Field leaping to his feet and shoving the climate change activist against a pillar before holding her by the neck and pushing her out of the room.

The woman – later identified as 38-year-old Janet Barker – was removed from the banquet hall by security who showed much more restraint than the MP

His fellow MPs including Jonny Mercer were quick to come to his defence and justify the level of aggression used by Field.

Online members queued up to defend his actions before outgoing leader Theresa May suspended him from his role as a foreign office minister pending investigation, calling footage of the incident “very concerning”.

What struck me most about the incident was that no one stepped in to help or intervene, just watched wine glasses in hand as an elected member of parliament grabbed a woman by the neck.

But it was the now very public row between Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds that exposed the really ugly side of a party so desperate to save itself it will justify almost anything in that pursuit.

We may never know what really went on with the man tipped to be prime minister and Ms Symonds, a PR executive.

A former head of press at Conservative Campaign Headquarters, she left the role shortly before it was publicly revealed she was dating Johnson.

She’s clearly a clever, impressive and ambitious young women and could be the youngest partner of any prime minister to live in Number 10.

As such the fact that the police were called to her apartment over an exchange is relevant and she must know as a senior press officer, simply refusing to speak about it will not make it go away.

When she was just 19, she took a lift from the black cab rapist John Worboys who gave her a spiked drink. She was the youngest victim to give evidence against him and part of the campaign to keep him in prison.

And so, she knows the impact of violence on women and the importance of speaking out whether as a victim or to help others who feel unable to publicly speak for themselves.

Johnson is desperate to get to Number 10, a buffoon of a man his campaign team appear to have decided shielding him from tough interviews and keeping him away from the press was the way to Downing Street.

Even that didn’t work as he managed to hit the headlines even from behind closed doors.

And while we don’t know what happened that night the reaction of those - both supporters of Boris and the conservative media - attacking the neighbours who recorded and reported the exchange is concerning.

If I am ever worried about the welfare of a man, woman or child I would like to think I’d do something about it regardless of who the victim or alleged perpetrator are.

The ‘what goes on in the privacy of a person’s home is no one else’s business’ is a line straight from the outdated ‘you’ve made your bed now lie in it’ attitude to domestic abuse.

That Women’s Aid had to release a statement asking people not to ignore concerns about a friend, relative or neighbour should worry us all.

Even more so if the neighbour is someone who will have a future role in shaping policy and legislation to protect the most vulnerable in society.

So, please don't take advice from those who say you should look the other way – raise the alarm if you're concerned about a neighbour, it might just save their life.