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| David Ruffley 'should step down as MP immediately over domestic violence' | David Ruffley 'should step down as MP immediately over domestic violence' |
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| Women's groups have called for MP David Ruffley to step down immediately, after he announced that he would leave parliament next May, months after accepting a police caution for assaulting his ex-girlfriend. Eleanor Rehahn, of the Bury St Edmunds branch of the women's rights group the Fawcett Society, said the Conservative party was continuing to avoid dealing with the matter. | |
| "We are calling for Mr Ruffley to step down immediately," she said. "His decision to step down at the end of this parliament is only a partial victory. She accused the Conservatives of brushing the issue under the carpet. "They [the Conservatives] have really sidestepped the issue. They haven't said: 'Yes this was domestic violence, it was terrible and here are the internal policies we have implemented to tackle it.' It is indicative of the whole climate in Westminister, which very much seems to be an old boys' network." | "We are calling for Mr Ruffley to step down immediately," she said. "His decision to step down at the end of this parliament is only a partial victory. She accused the Conservatives of brushing the issue under the carpet. "They [the Conservatives] have really sidestepped the issue. They haven't said: 'Yes this was domestic violence, it was terrible and here are the internal policies we have implemented to tackle it.' It is indicative of the whole climate in Westminister, which very much seems to be an old boys' network." |
| It also emerged that dozens of women affiliated to the Conservative party had sent a letter due to be published on Tuesday, which states that it is "unacceptable that a man who has accepted a caution for assaulting his partner should continue in his position". | It also emerged that dozens of women affiliated to the Conservative party had sent a letter due to be published on Tuesday, which states that it is "unacceptable that a man who has accepted a caution for assaulting his partner should continue in his position". |
| The letter, leaked to the political blogger Guido Fawkes, is thought to be backed by senior Tory women and appears to have been confirmed by the writer and academic Kate Maltby, who tweeted: "As a signatory, can confirm this is true. Young researchers had reason to know Ruffley was a problem." | The letter, leaked to the political blogger Guido Fawkes, is thought to be backed by senior Tory women and appears to have been confirmed by the writer and academic Kate Maltby, who tweeted: "As a signatory, can confirm this is true. Young researchers had reason to know Ruffley was a problem." |
| On Monday night, however, Michael Gove, the Tory chief whip, praised Ruffley's "outstanding" contribution to parliament after he announced his decision to stand down as an MP at the next election. Andrew Speed, the chairman of the Bury St Edmunds Conservatives Association thanked him for his service and wished him "every success in his future career". | On Monday night, however, Michael Gove, the Tory chief whip, praised Ruffley's "outstanding" contribution to parliament after he announced his decision to stand down as an MP at the next election. Andrew Speed, the chairman of the Bury St Edmunds Conservatives Association thanked him for his service and wished him "every success in his future career". |
| Heather Harvey of the domestic violence charity Eaves for Women, said: "I feel it is very dismissive for party spokespeople to say the matter has been dealt with as though it has no bearing." | Heather Harvey of the domestic violence charity Eaves for Women, said: "I feel it is very dismissive for party spokespeople to say the matter has been dealt with as though it has no bearing." |
| "Given how hard it is for victims to report domestic violence, the many continued failings of the justice system's response … and the fact that violence against women and girls, in words at least, appears to be on the government's agenda – it amazes me that the Conservative party would turn a blind eye to the message that is sent out by allowing an MP with a conviction to continue in office, especially one who had a policing responsibility." | "Given how hard it is for victims to report domestic violence, the many continued failings of the justice system's response … and the fact that violence against women and girls, in words at least, appears to be on the government's agenda – it amazes me that the Conservative party would turn a blind eye to the message that is sent out by allowing an MP with a conviction to continue in office, especially one who had a policing responsibility." |
| Ruffley said he would stand down at the next general election ahead of a critical constituency meeting his constituency party on Thursday that had been due to discuss his police caution for assaulting his ex-girlfriend. | Ruffley said he would stand down at the next general election ahead of a critical constituency meeting his constituency party on Thursday that had been due to discuss his police caution for assaulting his ex-girlfriend. |
| He had come under pressure from a variety of of sources, including a petition calling for his resignation set up by the campaign group Everyday Victim Blaming, which amassed 45,000 signatures. | He had come under pressure from a variety of of sources, including a petition calling for his resignation set up by the campaign group Everyday Victim Blaming, which amassed 45,000 signatures. |
| The Conservatives initially tried to draw a line under the matter, saying it had been dealt with by the police, but the dean of St Edmundsbury cathedral, the Very Reverend Frances Ward wrote to the party calling for him to go. Ward, a friend of Ruffley's former partner, described how she had been "wincing in obvious pain" after the incident and said the woman had been frightened of his "rage and violent behaviour". | The Conservatives initially tried to draw a line under the matter, saying it had been dealt with by the police, but the dean of St Edmundsbury cathedral, the Very Reverend Frances Ward wrote to the party calling for him to go. Ward, a friend of Ruffley's former partner, described how she had been "wincing in obvious pain" after the incident and said the woman had been frightened of his "rage and violent behaviour". |
| Holly Dustin of the End Violence Against Women Coalition said the campaigns' success had shown the importance of women's groups. "I think this shows that there is still a real problem with the way some politicians view violence against women and girls," she said. "It is not enough to publicly state you have a policy. The way you deal with these matters internally is not up to scratch. If you are going to make policy in this area, you have to have your own house in order to have any credibility." | Holly Dustin of the End Violence Against Women Coalition said the campaigns' success had shown the importance of women's groups. "I think this shows that there is still a real problem with the way some politicians view violence against women and girls," she said. "It is not enough to publicly state you have a policy. The way you deal with these matters internally is not up to scratch. If you are going to make policy in this area, you have to have your own house in order to have any credibility." |
| Suffolk Conservatives had been split over whether the MP should stand down over his police caution. Speed saying in an email to several Tory members that he did not believe it "in any way qualifies as domestic abuse". | Suffolk Conservatives had been split over whether the MP should stand down over his police caution. Speed saying in an email to several Tory members that he did not believe it "in any way qualifies as domestic abuse". |
| Jenny Antill, a Conservative councillor who lives in the nearby constituency of South Suffolk and is chair of the Suffolk Domestic Abuse Partnership, challenged that view. She wrote: "Do you agree that David Ruffley accepted a police caution for common assault on his then partner at his London flat earlier this year? If so, in what way does this not constitute domestic abuse? | Jenny Antill, a Conservative councillor who lives in the nearby constituency of South Suffolk and is chair of the Suffolk Domestic Abuse Partnership, challenged that view. She wrote: "Do you agree that David Ruffley accepted a police caution for common assault on his then partner at his London flat earlier this year? If so, in what way does this not constitute domestic abuse? |
| "I do not understand your position and can only repeat the recommendation of the Suffolk Domestic Abuse Partnership that your association reconsider his reselection in the light of the known facts." | "I do not understand your position and can only repeat the recommendation of the Suffolk Domestic Abuse Partnership that your association reconsider his reselection in the light of the known facts." |
| Ruffley has previously issued a statement through his lawyer, which said: "In March this year, an incident occurred between me and my former partner, resulting in inappropriate action on my part, which I deeply regret ... I wish to stress that I would never condone domestic violence under any circumstances. The incident was dealt with by the police and I accepted responsibility for my actions at the time. I regret this matter in its entirety and the position in which I put my former partner, and I now ask that her privacy be respected." | Ruffley has previously issued a statement through his lawyer, which said: "In March this year, an incident occurred between me and my former partner, resulting in inappropriate action on my part, which I deeply regret ... I wish to stress that I would never condone domestic violence under any circumstances. The incident was dealt with by the police and I accepted responsibility for my actions at the time. I regret this matter in its entirety and the position in which I put my former partner, and I now ask that her privacy be respected." |