Council vice-chairman makes public apology over sexist comment as opposition parties criticise Reform response
The councillor at the centre of a sexism row has made a public apology for his comment that “some women should have never left the kitchen” at an event in Northampton.
Councillor Peter York (Reform UK, Moulton) made the remark at an International Women’s Day event earlier this month. It prompted widespread condemnation from opposition councillors and the Northants Women’s Empowerment Group, who made a formal complaint.
His apology, read in a prepared statement at a West Northamptonshire Council meeting on Friday March 13, came after opposition councillors accused the Reform part of “utterly failing” to hold Councillor York to account.
At Friday’s meeting, which was to discuss devolution plans, Councillor York, the vice-chairman of WNC, apologised for his comments.
He said he recognised the words he used were “inappropriate and capable of causing offence”.
He added that “respect for women has always been a fundamental part of his life”, stating that he has been married to his wife for more than 55 years, has two daughters and two granddaughters.
Prior to the meeting, Councillor York had told the Chronicle & Echo: "I'd like to apologise for any offence taken to a comment made at the [event], that was taken entirely out of context, whilst being provoked by a member of the public, and a councillor from the Liberal Democrat group."
A joint statement released by the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat group leaders on the council criticised the comments and Reform’s handing of the situation.
The letter was signed by Councillor Daniel Lister (Conservative), Councillor Sally Keeble (Labour) and Councillor Jonathan Harris (Lib Dem).
The comment was “deeply sexist”, the leaders said, and “demean women and undermine their rights”.
“The Reform UK Administration has utterly failed to hold Councillor York to account for his remarks,” the letter said.
The opposition leaders referenced this in their letter: “It was left to the interim chief executive to issue the apology when it should have come from the Reform UK Administration. The officer team are not to blame for these remarks and it should not have fallen to an officer to step forward in that way.
“Our three groups disagree on many things. However, we are united in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. They underpin the council’s corporate programme and are the foundation of a society in which every person can be the best that is in them, to the benefit of all.”
In a statement last week to the Chron, leader of WNC, Councillor Mark Arnull said that “whilst the comment was taken out of context, it was unacceptable and will not repeated”.
Speaking at the devolution meeting on Friday, Cllr Arnull attempted to draw a line under the matter.
He said: “Whilst reports in the media have questioned the silence and opposition members have publicly seemed to have condemned behaviour, I’m not going to get into a game of throwing stones in glass houses. We will not engage in that any further at this time.”
Referring to the Local Democracy Reporter Service, Councillor Arnull asked “members present and our media in the public gallery to allow us to move on from this and stop dragging what is now old news through the papers, day after day”.