“Elite men-only club shuts amid furore over groping scandal” (25 January). Rich, undoubtedly; but “elite”, definitely not. By using that word in your headline, you are pandering to the egos that drive the behaviours of many of those men who attended the Presidents Club. Those who behaved in the ways described are weak, needy, inadequate men. Those who saw the behaviours but said nothing to challenge them are weak and cowardly. None of them could qualify as elite. What a total contrast these rich, professionally powerful men are to the emotional strength and courage of all the women now speaking out.
Duncan Forbes
Crickhowell, Powys
• So the Presidents Club had read, seen and heard about the abusive treatment of women which led to #MeToo, yet still saw fit to go ahead with an “all-male” evening at the Dorchester (which, by the way, also saw fit to accept the booking). Some rich men chose to go and, whatever they did or didn’t do at the “event”, none of them alerted the police to the abusive treatment of women which took place.
There is much damage limitation, posturing and jockeying now going on, but frankly any man involved in any way in this tawdry enterprise needs to promptly and unequivocally acknowledge that he got it badly wrong.
Perhaps we’ll know if these men of influence finally get the message when they close down the lap-dancing clubs, strip clubs and the like that they, their banks or their companies own, invest in, partially control or otherwise bankroll.
Mick Gough
Stoke on Trent
• Hospitals have to rely on charity donations because the fat cats don’t pay their fair share of tax (‘Unacceptable’: The charities rejecting trust’s donations, 25 January). Are these men now going to renege on the promises they made at the dinner?
The owner of the Ivy, Richard Caring, pledged £400,000 to Evelina children’s hospital’s high-dependency space in its new intensive-care unit “to put his name on the unit”. Evelina said this will not be going ahead. Couldn’t he offer it direct or indeed honour the whole £650,000 pledged by the Presidents Club. Or just donate it to the NHS?
Ros Campbell
Leeds
• Among the understandable outrage at this sleazy affair, I see no mention of the fact that the hostesses knowingly participated. They could have refused the job, refused to wear the provocative underwear and refused to wait on these dinosaurs. But the money is good and they must have been fully aware of what was likely to occur. Until we women refuse to undertake “hostessing”, it will still continue in clubs and parties throughout the land.
Jane Ghosh
Bristol
• Grope women at a charity do and if the media find out the charities will give you your money back. Is that really the message charities should be giving out?
Andy Jenkinson
Farnborough, Hampshire
• The continued existence of gentlemen’s clubs in London (Shock, revulsion – but no surprise, G2, 25 January) is an anomaly. As a member of the National Liberal Club for over 50 years, I used to raise the issue of full female membership every decade or so, and was fobbed off with the usual excuse of inadequate plumbing, until in 1976 the club became the first in London to admit women as full members.
This open membership has had a considerable social, political and financial benefit, so much so that the club currently has a woman chair, the first of any London club. It is difficult to comprehend today how the exclusion of women was ever defended. Worried gentlemen in the Garrick and other similar male bastions have nothing to fear.
Michael Meadowcroft
Leeds
• How you can put Philip Green and “luminaries” in the same sentence I don’t know.
Sue Stephenson
Barrow-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire
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