Boycott: I couldn’t give a toss about knighthood flak
SIR Geoffrey Boycott said he “couldn’t give a toss” about criticism of his knighthood, as pressure mounted for the honour to be rescinded over the cricketer’s domestic abuse conviction.
Campaigners criticised Theresa May’s decision to honour her favourite cricketer, who was convicted in France in 1998 of beating up his then-girlfriend in a Riviera hotel.
A Women’s Aid chief executive, Adina Claire, said the former prime minister was sending a “dangerous message” that “domestic abuse is not taken seriously as a crime”.
But, when asked about Ms Claire’s comments yesterday, the Yorkshireman told BBC Today presenter Martha Kearney: “I don’t care a toss about her, love. It’s 25 years ago. So you can take your political nature and do whatever you want with it. You want to talk to me about my knighthood, it’s very nice of you to have me. But I couldn’t give a toss.”
The 78-year-old was commenting after Ms Claire said it was “extremely
disappointing” to see the former England cricketer honoured.
“Celebrating a man who was convicted for assaulting his partner sends a dangerous message – that domestic abuse is not taken seriously as a crime,” she added.
Mrs May nominated the cricketer for a knighthood for services to sport in her resignation honours list.
But it was reported in 2015 that her previous attempt as home secretary to get him dubbed was blocked by officials because of the conviction.
The former PM had been celebrated for introducing the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill earlier this year.
The legislation failed to make it through Parliament before its suspension on Monday so will have to be reintroduced when MPs return from their five-week break.
Labour was among those calling on Boris Johnson to rescind the knighthood, saying it was an “insult to victims and survivors of domestic violence”.
Shadow minister for women and equalities Dawn Butler said: “Honouring a perpetrator of domestic violence just because he is the former Prime Minister’s favourite sportsman shows how out of touch and nepotistic the honours list is. Boris Johnson should rescind his knighthood today.”
The Women’s Equality Party called for a “Boycott boycott” in reaction to Sir Geoffrey’s radio appearance.
A spokeswoman from the Woman’s Trust charity said: “It’s disappointing to see Geoffrey Boycott included in Theresa May’s honours list, given her vocal support for domestic abuse survivors and the Domestic Abuse Bill.
“While we welcome the bill for its work to widen the definition of domestic abuse, the inclusion of Geoffrey Boycott in the honours list shows how much our attitude as a society needs to change when it comes to supporting survivors.”