We must address issue of ‘casual everyday sexism’, says Johnson

BORIS JOHNSON has said “the fundamental issue of the casual everyday sexism” is the underlying factor that needs to be addressed in the ongoing debate about women’s safety.

Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday struck a sombre tone as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged Mr Johnson to tackle the “epidemic of violence against women and girls”.

In light of the disappearance of Sarah Everard, Sir Keir called for a “watershed moment” such as those seen with the murders of Stephen Lawrence and James Bulger.

“Now the awful events of the last week have lifted a veil on the epidemic of violence against women and girls,” he said. “This must also be a watershed moment to change how we as a society treat women and girls and how we prevent and end sexual violence and harassment.”

Mr Johnson said the reaction to Miss Everard’s disappearance had been “wholly justified and understandable”.

He said the Government is doing “everything that we can” to make the streets safer for women, and in response to Labour’s shadow women and equalities minister Charlotte Nichols, said “casual everyday sexism” needs to be on top of the agenda.

Mr Johnson said: “We can do all the things that we’ve talked about, two men arguing over the despatch box, we can bring in more laws, tougher sentences which I hope she will support, we can support independent domestic violence and sexual violence advisers, all that kind of thing.

“But we have to address the fundamental issue of the casual everyday sexism and apathy that fails to address the concerns of women – that is the underlying issue.”