Daily Mirror

Tory club lets in women.. to get their cash

- BY KEANE DUNCAN AND LUCY THORNTON

A TORY club is finally admitting women – but only because it needs to raise more money.

It marks the end of 108 years of male-only membership at the Great Ayton Conservati­ve Club in North Yorkshire.

But it appears to have little to do with equality.

Vice-president Rod Thrower said: “Things are more and more difficult.

“We came down to two choices: cut costs, or find a way of creating income. We had some dissenters.”

It leaves five out of 850 UK Tory clubs that do not allow women members.

Charles Littlewood, of the Associatio­n of Conservati­ve Clubs, said: “We strongly encourage all our clubs to allow anyone to become members.”

 ??  ?? CHANGE Conservati­ve club
CHANGE Conservati­ve club

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