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| Presidents Club: Scandal-hit charity dinner organiser quits post | Presidents Club: Scandal-hit charity dinner organiser quits post |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man who helped organise a men-only charity dinner, where hostesses were allegedly groped, has quit the Department for Education board. | A man who helped organise a men-only charity dinner, where hostesses were allegedly groped, has quit the Department for Education board. |
| David Meller quit his non-executive role after claims about the event by an undercover FT reporter. | David Meller quit his non-executive role after claims about the event by an undercover FT reporter. |
| Charities are refusing donations from the Presidents Club Charity Dinner, at London's Dorchester Hotel. | |
| Event compere comedian David Walliams said he was "appalled" by the claims but had not witnessed anything. | Event compere comedian David Walliams said he was "appalled" by the claims but had not witnessed anything. |
| The Presidents Club said it would investigate, while the Dorchester Hotel said it was "deeply concerned" and was also looking into the claims. | The Presidents Club said it would investigate, while the Dorchester Hotel said it was "deeply concerned" and was also looking into the claims. |
| The only women at the event, attended by senior figures in business and finance, were hired hostesses. | The only women at the event, attended by senior figures in business and finance, were hired hostesses. |
| A spokesman for the Artista agency, which recruited the hostesses, said: "I was not aware of any claims of sexual harassment but the kind of behaviour alleged is completely unacceptable. | |
| "I am checking with the staff and any complaints will be dealt with promptly and fairly." | |
| Walliams tweeted that he was there in a "strictly professional capacity" and not as a guest. | Walliams tweeted that he was there in a "strictly professional capacity" and not as a guest. |
| Responding to an urgent question in the House of Commons, education minister Anne Milton said Mr Meller was "absolutely clear" that stepping down was the "right thing to do". | Responding to an urgent question in the House of Commons, education minister Anne Milton said Mr Meller was "absolutely clear" that stepping down was the "right thing to do". |
| She said allegations of this type of behaviour were "completely unacceptable" and said that board members were required to follow a code of conduct. | She said allegations of this type of behaviour were "completely unacceptable" and said that board members were required to follow a code of conduct. |
| "It is quite extraordinary to me that, in the 21st century, allegations of this kind are still emerging," she said. | "It is quite extraordinary to me that, in the 21st century, allegations of this kind are still emerging," she said. |
| "Women have the right to feel safe wherever they work." | "Women have the right to feel safe wherever they work." |
| The Department for Education said Mr Meller, founder of the Meller Educational Trust, attended the dinner in a personal capacity. | The Department for Education said Mr Meller, founder of the Meller Educational Trust, attended the dinner in a personal capacity. |
| It said new Education Minister Nadhim Zahawi also attended in a personal capacity. | It said new Education Minister Nadhim Zahawi also attended in a personal capacity. |
| A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Zahawi had "attended briefly and felt uncomfortable at what had begun to happen." | |
| Mr Zahawi told the BBC's Newsnight: "I didn't stay long enough to really comment on the occasion." | |
| He later tweeted: "I do unequivocally condemn this behaviour. The report is truly shocking. I will never attend a men only function ever." | He later tweeted: "I do unequivocally condemn this behaviour. The report is truly shocking. I will never attend a men only function ever." |
| Downing Street said the prime minister was "uncomfortable" at the reports about the dinner and a spokesman added that it was "an event she wouldn't be invited to". | Downing Street said the prime minister was "uncomfortable" at the reports about the dinner and a spokesman added that it was "an event she wouldn't be invited to". |
| Hostesses 'shocked' | Hostesses 'shocked' |
| Madison Marriage, the Financial Times reporter who worked at the event, says hostesses were not warned that they might be sexually harassed. | Madison Marriage, the Financial Times reporter who worked at the event, says hostesses were not warned that they might be sexually harassed. |
| Ms Marriage told BBC Newsnight: she was groped "several times" and "numerous other hostesses" said the same thing happened to them. | Ms Marriage told BBC Newsnight: she was groped "several times" and "numerous other hostesses" said the same thing happened to them. |
| "It's a hands up skirts, hands on bums but also hands on hips, hands on stomachs, arms going round your waist unexpectedly," she said. | "It's a hands up skirts, hands on bums but also hands on hips, hands on stomachs, arms going round your waist unexpectedly," she said. |
| "This isn't, I suppose, a high-level groping, but one of the strangest things was you could be talking to a man and he'd suddenly start holding your hand." | "This isn't, I suppose, a high-level groping, but one of the strangest things was you could be talking to a man and he'd suddenly start holding your hand." |
| Ms Marriage said that the 130 hostesses were told to wear skimpy black outfits with matching underwear and high heels and also that they could drink alcohol while working. | Ms Marriage said that the 130 hostesses were told to wear skimpy black outfits with matching underwear and high heels and also that they could drink alcohol while working. |
| She said the hostesses were asked to sign a five-page non-disclosure agreement about the event upon arrival to the hotel. | She said the hostesses were asked to sign a five-page non-disclosure agreement about the event upon arrival to the hotel. |
| She said there were other women there "who had absolutely no idea that was the kind of event it would be". | She said there were other women there "who had absolutely no idea that was the kind of event it would be". |
| "I had one woman tell me that she was shocked," she said. "She was asked if she was a prostitute on the night." | "I had one woman tell me that she was shocked," she said. "She was asked if she was a prostitute on the night." |
| 'Organisers are appalled' | 'Organisers are appalled' |
| Over more than 30 years, the annual dinner has raised £20m for children's charities including Great Ormond Street Hospital and Evelina London Children's Hospital. | |
| The hospitals have said they will return previous donations from the organisers of the dinner following the reports. | |
| Great Ormond Street Hospital said it was "shocked" at the claims, had no involvement in the event and was not due to receive money from the dinner. | |
| "We would never knowingly accept donations raised in this way," a spokeswoman said. | |
| A spokeswoman for the Evelina London Children's Hospital said they were "alarmed" by the allegations. | |
| "This is not the kind of event we would wish to be associated with," she said. | |
| The Charity Commission said it was investigating the claims "as a matter of urgency". | |
| In a statement, the Presidents Club said: "The organisers are appalled by the allegations of bad behaviour at the event asserted by the Financial Times reporters. Such behaviour is totally unacceptable. | |
| "The allegations will be investigated fully and promptly and appropriate action taken." | |
| 'Regrettable' | 'Regrettable' |
| WPP, the world's biggest advertising agency, has said it is withdrawing its future support for the dinner after the allegations. | WPP, the world's biggest advertising agency, has said it is withdrawing its future support for the dinner after the allegations. |
| WPP sponsored a table at the dinner, which took place at London's Dorchester Hotel last Thursday. | WPP sponsored a table at the dinner, which took place at London's Dorchester Hotel last Thursday. |
| Boss Sir Martin Sorrell told the BBC his guests did not see such behaviour and was not at this year's event at London's Dorchester Hotel, but said: "I have never seen anything like that. | Boss Sir Martin Sorrell told the BBC his guests did not see such behaviour and was not at this year's event at London's Dorchester Hotel, but said: "I have never seen anything like that. |
| "We checked with our people who were there at our table and they said they saw nothing of that kind - but we issued a statement saying that we won't support the charity in future, which is regrettable because it is a charity that supports numerous children's charities and has done a lot of good work." | "We checked with our people who were there at our table and they said they saw nothing of that kind - but we issued a statement saying that we won't support the charity in future, which is regrettable because it is a charity that supports numerous children's charities and has done a lot of good work." |
| 'Completely different' | 'Completely different' |
| Maria Miller, chair of the Women and Equalities select committee, told the BBC: "I think that at a time when Hollywood and Westminster are getting their act in order, tackling sexual harassment - to see so many members of the top establishment British business involved in an event like this, | Maria Miller, chair of the Women and Equalities select committee, told the BBC: "I think that at a time when Hollywood and Westminster are getting their act in order, tackling sexual harassment - to see so many members of the top establishment British business involved in an event like this, |
| "I think really does give cause for concern and really has to bring into question as to whether or not the laws are strong enough in this area." | "I think really does give cause for concern and really has to bring into question as to whether or not the laws are strong enough in this area." |
| Jess Phillips MP, who chairs the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party, told the BBC: "I am tired of having to continually say it's 2018 and it's totally unacceptable that women should be hired in as a herd to entertain a group of entitled rich men, because it's not what we're teaching our kids is an acceptable thing." | Jess Phillips MP, who chairs the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party, told the BBC: "I am tired of having to continually say it's 2018 and it's totally unacceptable that women should be hired in as a herd to entertain a group of entitled rich men, because it's not what we're teaching our kids is an acceptable thing." |
| Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: "This is brave reporting from the FT, exposing behaviour that is outrageous and unacceptable." | Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: "This is brave reporting from the FT, exposing behaviour that is outrageous and unacceptable." |
| And Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI director-general, said: "If even half of what's been written about this event is true, it is deplorable and confirms how far we have still to go to stamp out sexual harassment. | And Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI director-general, said: "If even half of what's been written about this event is true, it is deplorable and confirms how far we have still to go to stamp out sexual harassment. |
| "We want all women to feel confident and respected in every walk of life. We can and must do better than this." | "We want all women to feel confident and respected in every walk of life. We can and must do better than this." |
| Sam Smethers, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, which campaigns for gender equality and women's rights, said: "Sexual harassment, but all in a good cause? This is completely outrageous and proves why we need sexual harassment by clients or customers to be covered by law. | Sam Smethers, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, which campaigns for gender equality and women's rights, said: "Sexual harassment, but all in a good cause? This is completely outrageous and proves why we need sexual harassment by clients or customers to be covered by law. |
| "At the moment, these women are unable to hold their employer to account for putting them in that situation." | "At the moment, these women are unable to hold their employer to account for putting them in that situation." |
| Part of the event included a charity auction, with one of the prizes was the chance to have tea with Bank of England governor Mark Carney. | Part of the event included a charity auction, with one of the prizes was the chance to have tea with Bank of England governor Mark Carney. |
| However, a Bank of England spokesman said: "The Bank of England did not approve any prize for auction on the occasion described nor would it have for that organisation under its guidelines for charitable giving." | However, a Bank of England spokesman said: "The Bank of England did not approve any prize for auction on the occasion described nor would it have for that organisation under its guidelines for charitable giving." |
| The spokesman added that the Bank will not be permitting anyone who secured the "prize" to take it up. | The spokesman added that the Bank will not be permitting anyone who secured the "prize" to take it up. |
| Have you ever worked as a hostess at an event like this? Please share your experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Have you ever worked as a hostess at an event like this? Please share your experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |