Nadhim Zahawi told TM he was at Presidents Club Dinner for a short time before leaving because he felt uncomfortable. Turns out he was there for at least an hour and a half after the women were lined up on the stage. Given that he states he left because he felt uncomfortable, as Minister of State for Children and Families with responsibilities, why did he not speak out about the event? Even on Twitter?
It's reputation as an all male event was not unknown and I have to assume the politicians who attended were not well advised. This is from the Steerpike column in the Independent in 2010 -
All very grand, but the most eye catching part of the event – which is strictly for male diners – was the bevy of hostesses dressed in short black or red dresses, who entered the ballroom after dinner, to the fanfare of Shania Twain’s “Feel Like a Woman”. Each are paid £120 for “fetching drinks” and “socialising with” the glitzy guests.
It is quite a racy event for the conservative HSBC to sponsor, but the beauty parade seemed to be something of a hit.
“The boys tucked into the girls,” confesses my man on the inside, before adding swiftly: “after I’d left.” Naturally.
I'm not sure if he's got away with it after all.