Opponents hit out as rape tweet row Tory escapes punishment despite comments
Campaigners have hit out after a Tory councillor who suggested an alleged rape victim was “likely” to be a prostitute escaped punishment.
The Mirror revealed last month how Shaun Slator made the slur in a tweet reacting to an online news story about the alleged sex attack being probed by police.
Underneath a Twitter post of a web media report headlined “Woman raped in Plumstead park in early hours” – and which included a police comment – he wrote: “More likely that it’s a punter that didn’t pay.”
His comments were referred to Bromley Council in South East London, which commissioned a probe after receiving complaints.
But a leaked copy of the report found Mr Slator was not acting in his capacity as a councillor when he posted the tweet – and decided he should not be sanctioned.
The investigator said they were “agonised” about their conclusion.
The council’s monitoring officer decided there was no breach of its code of conduct – meaning no further investigation would take place.
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The report said: “It is appreciated that this view will perplex and disappoint some, if not all the complainants and other people.
“The finding in no way suggests that either the monitoring officer or the independent person endorse the behaviour of Councillor Slator. They do not.”
Julie Ireland, the Lib Dems’ group leader on the council, told the Mirror: “When I heard that Councillor Slator was not going to be sanctioned for his disgusting comments I was shocked.
“What message does this send to the women and girls in his ward … if he is allowed to get away with this abhorrent attempt to excuse a violent attack?
“He has shown a complete disrespect for women everywhere and Bromley Council’s failure to act reflects badly on the entire organisation.”
Labour‘s group leader Simon Jeal said the Tories should decide whether the “misogynistic, vile comments are acceptable for an elected representative of their party to make”.
He added: “The report makes clear the council’s investigators were forced to this decision by the prescribed legal rules for councillors’ conduct – despite their ‘abhorrence’ for Councillor Slater’s tweet, they ‘could not escape’ this conclusion.
“The report goes out of its way to make clear they do not endorse his views but determine the matter should be addressed by the Conservative Party, not Bromley Council.”
A Conservative spokesman said: “As this matter is currently under investigation, we cannot comment at this time.”
It is understood Mr Slator remains suspended from the party.
Contacted by the Mirror, he said: “I’ve got no comment for you guys.”
Asked if he was “happy with the outcome of the report”, he hung up.
Bromley Council was contacted for comment.