Rocket for Tories over lap-dancing gaffe from Labour women

Sep 22 2008 By Jonathan Walker, Birmingham Mail

LABOUR’S female cabinet ministers have rounded on the Conservatives after an advert for a lap-dancing club was distributed among delegates to the Tory conference in Birmingham.

Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, attacked the “hypocrisy” of the Conservatives as she announced plans to let councils turn down applications for new lap-dancing venues.

Harriet Harman, Labour’s Deputy Leader, claimed it showed the Tories were not genuinely interested in promoting equality for women.

The voucher, offering potential customers £10 off entry to the Rocket Club, in Broad Street, was included in a booklet produced by Marketing Birmingham, with an introduction from the Tory leader of the city council, Mike Whitby.

The national Conservative Party has disowned the brochure, saying that it simply agreed to distribute material provided by the city.

Ms Smith said: “The Conservatives said at the beginning of summer that they wanted to help local communities to control lap dancing clubs.

“We’re not also suggesting to our delegates in Manchester, at the same time as saying we should help people have more control over lap dancing clubs, encouraging people to go out and use them.”