Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Brendan Cox has resigned

208 replies

RedToothBrush · 17/02/2018 22:40

Brendan Cox @ mrbrendancox
Last week I decided to step down from my public roles to face up to mistakes I made several years ago while at Save the Children. I apologise to people I offended or upset at the time. My actions were never malicious but they were at times inappropriate.
I take responsibility for my actions and will hold myself to a higher standard in the future.

www.google.co.uk/amp/www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/jo-cox-husband-brendan-cox-step-down-charity-a8215951.html%3famp
Brendan Cox steps down from charity set up in murdered wife Jo’s memory over 'mistakes I made several years ago'

OP posts:
LizzieSiddal · 18/02/2018 08:43

His statement has angered me. He’s basically saying “I’m sorry if I upset anyone, I was drunk”

He’s not admitting to be a sex pest, which is what he is.

I feel so so sorry for Jo’s parents, sister and children, they’ve had enough to deal. Can you imaging the questions going through their head at the moment?
Did Jo know?,
Was Jo unhappy in her marriage?
Had he behaved this way with her?
It’s so tragic for them.

SusanBunch · 18/02/2018 08:46

Yes, he would be ideal for Oxfam. The DM is reporting that there is another allegation from a co-worker at StC. He allegedly grabbed her by the throat, pinned her against a wall and said 'you know you want to fuck me'. Women were afraid of being alone with him. He was their boss. This isn't some harmless bantz on a night out- this guy was a disgusting predator.

LizzieSiddal · 18/02/2018 08:56

Susan not only was he their boss, but the actual boss of STC was Cox’s best friend!

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 18/02/2018 08:56

The minimisation by some female labour MPs on Twitter is frightening

This is not just sexual harassment. This is violent sexual assault. Being drunk is not an excuse. It's not even a mitigating factor

Lottapianos · 18/02/2018 08:58

'This isn't some harmless bantz on a night out- this guy was a disgusting predator.'

Absolutely right. And his statement shows that he doesn't get it at all. The nerve of him playing super husband and super dad in the media since Jo died.

KadabrasSpoon · 18/02/2018 09:01

He's already worked for Oxfam...

SmurfOrTerf · 18/02/2018 09:01

Of course Jo knew, someone linked to an article, I think it was in the Times, from when he left StC.

SuburbanRhonda · 18/02/2018 09:06

It's pathetic. All the Trump bashing by the usual suspect Labour Lefties. And now one of their golden boys has fallen.

@viviennemary, using this story to minimise Trump’s abusive behaviour towards women is a new low, even for you.

SusanBunch · 18/02/2018 09:08

The minimisation by some female labour MPs on Twitter is frightening

Yup, have seen a contrast in the tweets from Lucy Powell MP re Toby Young and re Brendan Cox. Toby Young: "there is no hedging here", calling for him to be sacked for his unsavoury tweets. Brendan Cox (who has admitted to physically attacking women): "Good for Brendan Cox- reflecting and taking responsibility for past actions". Is she for real? It's just a joke- none of there people genuinely believe in the #metoo movement if it only applies when the assailant is someone everyone already hates.

The reference to 'past actions' fucks me off too. It was barely 2 years ago ffs and only stopped when he left his job. We're not talking about something that happened when he was 18.

bluescreen · 18/02/2018 09:10

Wasn't this supposed to be the reason he didn't stand for Jo's seat, despite being urged to do so? It's not particularly news; it's his standing down from the trust that is news. I suppose it's the sort of behaviour he will never be allowed to put behind him, however decently he's conducted himself since.

NemoMellie · 18/02/2018 09:11

Yet more evidence that left wing men are just as chauvinistic as their right wing counterparts.

nauticant · 18/02/2018 09:14

Lucy Powell MP was just on Broadcasting House being an apologist for Brendan Cox. She was praising how he had taken responsibility, done the right thing, blah blah blah.

Very very quick out of the blocks to start laundering his reputation. People have clearly invested a lot into a sex pest and aren't keen to see their investment go down the tubes.

SusanBunch · 18/02/2018 09:17

I suppose it's the sort of behaviour he will never be allowed to put behind him, however decently he's conducted himself since.

Nor should he. This is not a one-off indiscretion- it reveals his true character. People like that don't change their ways anyway- my guess is that he has been far from decent in private since Jo died. He is one of those people who thinks that he is entitled to take what he wants- including women.

I don't know why people seem to feel sorry for him. I have worked in a professional capacity for over 10 years now. Never once have I sexually harassed or groped or grabbed co-workers by the throat. It's not hard. It really isn't. This isn't some kind of hardship we are imposing on men, expecting them to respect boundaries and not assault women. It really isn't.

My blood is already boiled this morning because I saw Prof Mary Beard tweet about how we shouldn't judge Oxfam aid workers too harshly because none of us know how we would react if we were placed in an extreme situations. The fuck. I am pretty sure that no matter how unsavoury the conditions, I would not tell desperate people that they could only get help if they had sex with me.

Geronimoleapinglizards · 18/02/2018 09:18

It's sickening seeing people praising him and standing up for him. He sounds hideous. The men I've known who've behaved similarly have been utterly cold, callous individuals who think of nothing but their own pleasure

Lottapianos · 18/02/2018 09:20

'My blood is already boiled this morning because I saw Prof Mary Beard tweet about how we shouldn't judge Oxfam aid workers too harshly because none of us know how we would react if we were placed in an extreme situations'

Oh FFS. Like fucking prostitutes is a totally normal response to a stressful situation Hmm I really would have expected better from her.

Fraying · 18/02/2018 09:21

They all knew he was a sex pest. They just hoped the public didn't notice and that the media didn't go after him out of respect for Jo.
bluescreen it's newsworthy because some of the women are sharing the details of the attacks for the first time. It's also newsworthy in the context of MeToo.

NorthernLurker · 18/02/2018 09:23

The minimising is dreadful and shows that he doesn't have insight in to his actions. He was their boss and a married man. Harassing women for sex shouldn't be on anybody's agenda, drunk or sober. He clearly had no inhibitions and that's really alarming.

Baudelairian · 18/02/2018 09:30

There is a massive problem in our culture with women minimising this sort of behaviour.People assume its a male problem but there are many women who will overlook disgusting behaviour in men or find excuses for it.

nauticant · 18/02/2018 09:30

Then and now for Lucy Powell MP:

twitter.com/Jamin2g/status/965012280973946880

Baudelairian · 18/02/2018 09:31

@Lottapianos

Yes I totally agree!

Fraying · 18/02/2018 09:32

Afaik he also left before the disciplinary process could take place which meant they couldn't complete the process and couldn't mention the harassment on any references. He did the opposite of take responsibility and tbh I have no respect for the Foundation since they have tried to minimise this by talking about his integrity.

CaptainKirkssparetupee · 18/02/2018 09:37

Can't stand the man.
Bit my tongue until now.

Original poster
RedToothBrush · 18/02/2018 09:39

Minimising in pursuit of power by throwing women under the bus hardly suggests that once given power you will stand by and help women.

It just suggests that politics and position is more important.

Why should you trust anyone who continues to put party before decency and respect for others?

OP posts:
CritEqual · 18/02/2018 09:47

What a horrible vile man. I don't know wether I am more saddened by the mental gymnastics those in the Labour Party are doing to excuse/minimise his behaviour, or the fact I am not in the least bit surprised they are doing so.

allthatmalarkey · 18/02/2018 10:03

Without excusing him, sexual harassment is everywhere, but Brendan Cox is one man. I could literally throw a stick and find an employer where there has been some sexual harassment, so why has the Daily Mail singled him out? Oh, that's right, More in Common has links to the Stop Funding Hate campaigns which succeeded in losing the Daily Mail advertisers. And Oxfam's not an accident either. They just released a report the government didn't like, but the allegations are seven years old. Sadly, I've never known a situation where you put men from rich countries with poorer women in poorer countries without sexual exploitation taking place sooner or later and international development NGOs are not as immune as you'd think.
What I'm seeing is a male dominated system switching on to the fact that this is a useful new tool. I wish and hope that it will also be the start of the long, long awaited change, but I'm not holding my breath. And if this is the new way to take down your opposition, why on earth is it taking so long to get Trump? How many non-disclosures can there be out there? Is the GOP waiting until he's served his purpose and become too much of a liability?
Oops, I appear to have woken up a conspiracy theorist this morning.

Swipe left for the next trending thread