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| Labour MP says 'merit' in women-only train carriages | Labour MP says 'merit' in women-only train carriages |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Women-only train carriages could combat the rise in sexual offences on public transport, a Labour MP has said. | Women-only train carriages could combat the rise in sexual offences on public transport, a Labour MP has said. |
| Shadow fire minister Chris Williamson said it would be "worth consulting" on the policy after such crimes doubled in the past five years. | Shadow fire minister Chris Williamson said it would be "worth consulting" on the policy after such crimes doubled in the past five years. |
| However, Labour colleagues have criticised the move as "normalising attacks". | However, Labour colleagues have criticised the move as "normalising attacks". |
| Party leader Jeremy Corbyn first suggested the policy during his leadership election campaign in 2015. | Party leader Jeremy Corbyn first suggested the policy during his leadership election campaign in 2015. |
| Mr Williamson, MP for Derby North, tweeted an article containing figures from the British Transport Police, showing 1,448 sexual offences on trains had been reported in 2016-17, compared with 650 incidents in 2012-13. | |
| He then told PoliticsHome that women-only carriages - which have been tested in countries including Japan, Brazil and Mexico - should be consulted on as they could create a "safe space". | He then told PoliticsHome that women-only carriages - which have been tested in countries including Japan, Brazil and Mexico - should be consulted on as they could create a "safe space". |
| "It was pooh-poohed [when Mr Corbyn suggested it], but these statistics seem to indicate there is some merit in examining that," he said. | "It was pooh-poohed [when Mr Corbyn suggested it], but these statistics seem to indicate there is some merit in examining that," he said. |
| "Complemented with having more guards on trains, it would be a way of combating these attacks, which have seen a very worrying increase in the past few years." | "Complemented with having more guards on trains, it would be a way of combating these attacks, which have seen a very worrying increase in the past few years." |
| Mr Williamson added: "I'm not saying it has to happen, but it may create a safe space. It would be a matter of personal choice whether someone wanted to make use of it." | Mr Williamson added: "I'm not saying it has to happen, but it may create a safe space. It would be a matter of personal choice whether someone wanted to make use of it." |
| 'Make all carriages safe' | 'Make all carriages safe' |
| The idea for women-only carriages was dropped by Mr Corbyn two years ago after fellow members of his party criticised it, including senior Labour MPs Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall. | The idea for women-only carriages was dropped by Mr Corbyn two years ago after fellow members of his party criticised it, including senior Labour MPs Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall. |
| And Mr Williamson's comments have again been attacked by colleagues. | And Mr Williamson's comments have again been attacked by colleagues. |
| Walthamstow Labour MP Stella Creasy tweeted: "Can we make all carriages safe for all passengers rather than restricting where we can go? | Walthamstow Labour MP Stella Creasy tweeted: "Can we make all carriages safe for all passengers rather than restricting where we can go? |
| "[It] doesn't keep women safe to restrict their movements - it normalises attacks. We need to be clear they [the attackers] are problem, not women's seating plans." | "[It] doesn't keep women safe to restrict their movements - it normalises attacks. We need to be clear they [the attackers] are problem, not women's seating plans." |
| Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, said the policy was an "absolutely terrible idea". | Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, said the policy was an "absolutely terrible idea". |
| She tweeted: "It is essentially giving up on trying to prosecute assaults. Also, men should be incredibly annoyed by [the] suggestion they can't control themselves. | |
| "Sexual violence isn't about urges, it's about power. If you take your feminist cues from Saudi Arabia, you've gone wrong." | "Sexual violence isn't about urges, it's about power. If you take your feminist cues from Saudi Arabia, you've gone wrong." |
| The Women's Equality Party said it had not changed its opinion since the Labour leader first proposed women-only trains in 2015. | The Women's Equality Party said it had not changed its opinion since the Labour leader first proposed women-only trains in 2015. |
| The party's co-founder, Catherine Mayer, tweeted that it was "not a good idea", as the party "vigorously pointed out" when it was first suggested. | The party's co-founder, Catherine Mayer, tweeted that it was "not a good idea", as the party "vigorously pointed out" when it was first suggested. |