Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Sadiq Khan has sacked Joan Smith from the London VAWG board

133 replies

countrypunk · 19/08/2021 10:07

Activist 'sacked after raising concerns about transwomen in refuges'
mol.im/a/9906833

Also in the Times. I'm disgusted. It's such cynical game-playing from Khan, all to appease a tiny minority of TRAs. There's no way he actually believes this stuff.

I'm going to write to him. Joan Smith is a feminist rock star.

OP posts:
SuperLoudPoppingAction · 19/08/2021 10:08

Really poor timing when she's the foremost specialist making the link between domestic abuse and terrorism.

Abhannmor · 19/08/2021 10:09

Just saw that . Appalling cop out by Khan. A wave of resignations from Labour might concentrate his mind.

Original poster
countrypunk · 19/08/2021 10:09

Just unbelievable. How can he possibly say he's for women and then pull this kind of stunt? As ever, actions speak louder than words. He's a coward.

OP posts:
Purpletomato · 19/08/2021 10:13

Appalling. It's like Labour actually wants to lose women's votes.

Whatwouldscullydo · 19/08/2021 10:14

This is awful.

What a coward. Can't address reasonable concerns so just sack the woman who raised them..

Tibtom · 19/08/2021 10:16

@countrypunk

Just unbelievable. How can he possibly say he's for women and then pull this kind of stunt? As ever, actions speak louder than words. He's a coward.
Because he is not?
Jorrris · 19/08/2021 10:16

I hope she takes legal action against him.

ArtemesiaK · 19/08/2021 10:17

I'm disgusted...

NecessaryScene · 19/08/2021 10:18

Just to clarify - the article doesn't make any stronger connection than "after".

I don't know any background here - what's the confidence level that there is actually cause-and-effect?

OldTurtleNewShell · 19/08/2021 10:19

Wow. That's bad. I am so glad I left Labour and am no longer paying dues for this shit.
And I second the pp comment. I hope she takes legal action. I'll be quite happy to get digging.

Passmeamenuatthetottenham · 19/08/2021 10:21

Surely if this is all accurate and she has indeed been 'sacked', then she would have grounds for unfair dismissal? I don't the details of this particular role and how it works?

Signalbox · 19/08/2021 10:21

@Jorrris

I hope she takes legal action against him.
Honestly we need a few high profile cases before people start to understand that this is discriminatory and unacceptable.
Original poster
countrypunk · 19/08/2021 10:25

@NecessaryScene

Just to clarify - the article doesn't make any stronger connection than "after".

I don't know any background here - what's the confidence level that there is actually cause-and-effect?

Joan Smith herself seems pretty sure of the connection. I hope she's taking legal advice.

mobile.twitter.com/polblonde/status/1428250942152060932?s=24

OP posts:
Floisme · 19/08/2021 10:26

The Violence against Women and Girls Board have sacked the woman who wrote 'Misogynies'?

Righto.

Jorrris · 19/08/2021 10:28

Honestly we need a few high profile cases before people start to understand that this is discriminatory and unacceptable.

Absolutely we need this. He's breaking the law. She is allowed to raise very valid concerns about safeguarding and she is allowed to hold GC views. He does not get to remove her from post because he doesn't like that. I'm happy to do some gardening for her legal costs, as I'm sure many of us are. She only needs to ask.

Original poster
countrypunk · 19/08/2021 10:29

Absolutely agree @Jorrris.

OP posts:
Passmeamenuatthetottenham · 19/08/2021 10:30

So let's get this straight.

A male has sacked a female from a board dealing with violence against women and girls, because that female expressed concerns about males being allowed into female only refuges?

How fucking progressive! Well done Sadiq!

EdgeOfACoin · 19/08/2021 10:32

He jumps on every bandwagon going. He spouts TWAW without any understanding of what that means.

FrancescaContini · 19/08/2021 10:32

I absolutely ❤️ Joan Smith.
Perhaps one positive - clutching at straws - here is that SURELY this will now be discussed more widely in the media?? WRT the Scotland Rape Crisis CEO comments - I don’t believe they were widely reported (I only heard about this on MN), but I very very much hope that this story is picked up by the media. Absolutely nobody I know believes that biological males should be permitted into women’s refuges - nobody.

Enough4me · 19/08/2021 10:35

Women know your place. When male women tell you they need your space, men will agree...it's the boys club.

Jaysmith71 · 19/08/2021 10:36

Sadiq isn't a true believer. He's feeding the crocodile in the hope that it will eat him last.

EmbarrassingAdmissions · 19/08/2021 10:36

@Floisme

The Violence against Women and Girls Board have sacked the woman who wrote 'Misogynies'?

Righto.

Also the author of something that might also be deeply relevant: Grown: How Domestic Violence Turns Men Into Terrorists
Original poster
countrypunk · 19/08/2021 10:40

The Guardian have absolutely nothing to say about it so far, even though they printed a piece by Joan a few days ago about the links between terrorism and violence against women. What a fucking surprise.

OP posts:
Jorrris · 19/08/2021 10:41

Also the author of something that might also be deeply relevant: Grown: How Domestic Violence Turns Men Into Terrorists

Indeed.

Chersfrozenface · 19/08/2021 10:42

I wonder whether Sadiq Khan, supposedly a practising Muslim, has asked the Muslim women's refuges in London for their opinion on the subject.