Tory MP slams 'militant feminists' and men who pander to their 'nonsense'

Politically correct males are pandering to "militant feminists" who want to have their cake and eat it, a Tory MP has told a men's rights conference.

Tory MP Philip Davies complained about the drive for "so-called equality" that favours women in a speech that has emerged online.

He was speaking at an event last month for Justice for Men and Boys, an anti-feminism party whose 2015 election manifesto suggests men should receive their pension earlier than women because they work harder and die younger, and the Government should scrap schemes which attempt to increase the proportion of girls and young women studying science, technology, engineering and maths subjects.

It also claims the state education system is run with the objective of advantaging girls over boys and suggests parents should be able to send their sons to schools with male-only teachers because female teachers award lower grades to boys.

In a 45-minute speech posted online, Mr Davies denied that there is "an issue between men and women".

He said: "I think the problem is being stirred up by those who could be described as militant feminists and the politically correct males who pander to this nonsense.

"This has led to an equality but-only-when-it-suits agenda that applies to women. The drive for women to have so-called equality on all the things that suit the politically correct agenda but not other things that don't is of increasing concern to me."

He said while there are campaigns to increase women on company boards and in Parliament, there has been a "deafening silence" when it comes to increasing the number of men who have custody of their children or have careers as midwives.

He added: "In fact there seems to be a deafening silence on all the benefits women have compared to men. In this day and age the feminist zealots really do want women to have their cake and eat it.

"They fight for their version of equality on all the things that suit women but are very quick to point out that women need special protections and treatment on other things."

In Parliament Mr Davies has regularly raised concerns about what he calls the "justice gender gap", complaining that the justice system favours women by sending fewer to prison and not forcing them to wear uniforms.

Asked about his appearance at the Justice for Men and Boys conference, Mr Davies told the Guardian: "I don't accept the premise that the only place that people can speak on anything is a place where they agree with everything that organisation stands for.

"I don't agree with everything the Conservative Party does but I'm still a Conservative MP."

He told the newspaper he was not paid for the appearance.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said Mr Davies's speech was "truly ignorant".

"Philip Davies' comments are astonishing," he said.

"The need for feminism is self-evident. In the UK, on average two women a week are killed by a violent partner or ex-partner, the gender pay gap in full-time work stands at 24% and women are under-represented in Parliament and on FTSE 100 boards.

"I am proud to call myself a feminist and Philip Davies' remarks are truly ignorant."