A Hillingdon councillor is facing scrutiny after a sexist comment about the Chancellor of the Exchequer was allegedly made during a council meeting last month.
At a full council meeting on Thursday, February 27, councillor Martin Goddard, cabinet member for finance and transformation, shared his views on Rachel Reeves MP and the Labour government. He spoke of the rise in inflation and Ms Reeves MP’s reassurance to the country not to worry because under her watch, wages had increased.
Reading from his notes, cllr Goddard said: “Clearly her economics education was fundamentally different to mine. Needless to say, Rachel from accounts’ comments were hastily withdrawn…”
The phrase “Rachel from accounts” has been used around the country to criticise Ms Reeves MP and other women through its misogynistic and patronising tone.
Talking to NORTHWOOD&RUISLIPnews, Ruislip resident councillor Sital Punja said: “I find it deeply offensive. I’ve faced misogyny and seen women in senior positions not be taken seriously because men feel threatened.”
Cllr Punja is also interim director of the Labour Women’s Network.
She continued: “They’re not throwaway jokes. This was scripted; it was purposeful. Rather than talking about her policies which you can disagree with, cllr Goddard chose to attack her gender. And that is absolutely not on.”
Ms Reeves MP has since clapped back at critics, saying: “I’ve probably been called worse things… in the end, people are going to judge me on the job that I’m doing now, that I’m doing as Chancellor of the Exchequer.”
Cllr Goddard has been contacted for comment.
Photo credit: Hillingdon Council on YouTube and Cllr Sital Punja on X
0 Comments