Boycott: I don’t give a toss about critics of my knighthood
SIR Geoffrey Boycott said yesterday he “couldn’t give a toss” about criticism of his knighthood.
Domestic abuse campaigners have attacked former prime minister Theresa May’s decision to honour the controversial England cricketer, who was convicted in France in 1998 of beating his then girlfriend in a Riviera hotel.
The co-acting chief executive of Women’s Aid, Adina Claire, has called the award “very disappointing”.
Sir Geoffrey, 78, told BBC Today programme 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 Yorkshireman was commenting after Ms Claire said: “Celebrating a man who was convicted for assaulting his partner sends a dangerous message – that domestic abuse is not taken seriously as a crime.”
The cricketer-turned-media pundit was nominated for a knighthood for services to sport in Mrs May’s resignation honours list. The former PM introduced the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill earlier this year, but it failed to make it through Parliament before prorogation so will have to be reintroduced when MPs return from their extended break. Reacting to Sir Geoffrey’s radio appearance, the Women’s Equality Party called for a “Boycott boycott”.
A spokeswoman from the Woman’s Trust said his inclusion on the honours list “shows just how much our attitude as a society needs to change when it comes to supporting survivors”.
Yorkshireborn former Spice Girl Melanie Brown, who accused her ex-husband Stephen Belafonte of abuse during court proceedings in the US, also weighed in with criticism of the decision – dubbing Sir Geoffrey “a disgrace” to the county.
Sir Geoffrey was fined £5,000 and given a three-month suspended prison sentence over the incident at the Hotel du Cap in Antibes in October 1996, which left partner Margaret Moore with bruising to her forehead and blackened eyes.