Bromley councillor suggests alleged rape victim was a sex worker

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

A councillor is being investigated by his local authority after suggesting an alleged rape victim was “likely” a sex worker whose “punter” didn’t pay.

Conservative councillor Shaun Slator, for St Mary Cray ward in Bromley, replied to a tweet by a local newspaper on December 31 about an alleged rape in a Plumstead park.

In his reply, Councillor Slator said: “More likely that it’s a punter that didn’t pay.”

The reply has since been deleted, with Bromley council saying it is investigating complaints on the issue and opposition parties calling for the resignation of the councillor.

In a letter to Bromley council leader Colin Smith, Cllr Julie Ireland, leader of the Bromley Liberal Democrats, said the group was “horrified” to read the comments made by Cllr Slator, and demanded an immediate apology and his suspension from the party.

The group also said it welcomed confirmation that Cllr Slator was now being investigated by Bromley council.

Cllr Ireland said: “The Liberal Democrats in Bromley formally call for Cllr Slator’s resignation. Someone with these views and judgements has no place representing constituents in Bromley.

“What a terrible message to send to women and girls in his ward and across the borough, that violence against them is likely to be trivialised and the victim condemned rather than the perpetrator.”

Councillor Simon Jeal, leader of the Bromley Labour Group, called Cllr Slator’s comments “revolting,” and said the group was “disgusted” by what had been said.

He said the group called upon the Bromley Conservative Group and Conservative MP Gareth Bacon to “publicly and unequivocally” condemn the comments.

Both the Bromley Labour and Liberal Democrat groups called for the matter to be referred to the council’s standards committee for independent investigation.

Complaints against members of the Conservative Party can be made when a member is suspected of misusing social media, or is in breach of the code of conduct.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “We have an established code of conduct and formal processes where complaints can be made in confidence. This process is rightly confidential.”

A Bromley council spokeswoman said: “We have received complaints relating to this matter which the council will now investigate.”

Prior to publication Cllr Slator was contacted for comment regarding the post made on his social media account.

Bromley and Chislehurst Conservatives were also contacted for comment.

Pictured top: A headshot of Cllr Shaun Slator, as shown on the Bromley council website (Picture: Bromley council)