'Rachel from accounts' comment by Telford councillor sparks misogyny row
A furious row kicked off when a Tory councillor referred to the Chancellor of the Exchequer as “Rachel from accounts”.
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Labour members of Telford & Wrekin Council called on Conservative councillor Nigel Dugmore to apologise after he referred to Rachel Reeves in a heated evening in the council chamber.
Councillor Dugmore (Cons), during a debate on the winter fuel allowance on Thursday, said: “The Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Rachel Thieves, Rachel from accounts, call her what you will, callously stopped the payments just at the start of winter, giving pensioners little time to budget for the decision.”
Councillor Eileen Callear (Lab) said this and other comments made on the night were “simply disgusting”. Councillor Carolyn Healy (Lab) had referred to “casual misogny” from Tory group members.
Councillor Callear said: “The fact that we are looking at comments around Rachel Reeves being called Rachel from accounts when we have just confirmed our new female section 151 officer – a brilliant officer.
“They would not say these comments if they were talking about a man and I think they should apologise.”
Councillor Richard Overton (Lab) said having the first female chancellor should be “welcomed, not taken the mick out of.
“There were many names we could have called Jeremy Hunt when he was chancellor but we didn’t.”
Conservative group leader Councillor Tim Nelson said the group “reject misogyny in any form, as you would expect me to say.”
He then compared the Tory party’s woman leader count to Labour’s record.
“Our party has had two (sic) female leaders and yours hasn’t, and a current leader from an ethnic minority.
“So please don’t lecture us about diversity.”
The Conservatives have had three female prime ministers, Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May and Liz Truss. Their current leader is Kemi Badenoch. Labour has never had a female leader.
Councillor Andrew Eade (Cons) said he did not believe calling Rachel Reeves “Rachel from accounts” was misogynistic.
He said that Labour members had made “remarks” about local MP Mark Pritchard and called previous Shropshire Council leader Mark Barrow the “barrow boy” and he thinks the two types of political insult are comparable.
