Skip to main content

Proceeding contribution from Denis MacShane (Labour) in the House of Commons on Thursday, 12 November 2009. It occurred during Debate on bill on Policing and Crime Bill.


Policing and Crime Bill

I wish that I could join my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) in congratulating the English Collective of Prostitutes, but that organisation has consistently opposed all campaigning efforts to slow down trafficking. Indeed, it was quite violently—I would almost say vulgarly—opposed to the propositions that have come back from the Lords, which are of huge significance. The House is empty because this is the last moment before Prorogation, but this is one of the most profound changes in our law that we have adopted in recent years. We are completely altering the whole approach to the abuse and dehumanisation of women. My hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Lynda Waltho) struggled over the word "objectification" and, like her, I have some difficulty in spluttering out that terminology. That is the whole purpose of the sex industry, however. It removes from women their womanhood and turns them into mechanical objects of sexual pleasure who accept a large number of penises every day to satisfy men's desire. This legislation now focuses on men, and it is extremely radical. The House of Lords had a very moving debate on this measure on Tuesday 3 November, and I am astonished that there has been absolutely no coverage of it. When I raised this matter on "Newsnight", a lady from the English Collective of Prostitutes and Mr. Jeremy Paxman rounded on me and abused me, saying that there were no trafficked women and that there was no problem of any sort. What world are they living in?


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
499 c397 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Data protection Databases Criminal investigation Crime Alcoholic drinks Crimes of violence DNA Licensing Drugs Human trafficking Fines Injunctions Police Licensing laws Prostitution Surveillance Young people Sex establishments Body samples
Legislation
Policing and Crime Bill 2008-09
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk