Live Urgent Question - 'Return of Kings' Group House of Commons

children through its life-savers project how to make sure that they

don't get into debt, this is evidence that the church will be

supportive of what he has suggested. Urgent question. Will the Minister

make a statement on events planned by the group return of King 's?

There is a self-styled US pick-up artist, reporting had suggested that

they were scheduled to hold nine events across the UK on Saturday. An

announcement on the group's website has been publicised in the press,

which states that no Return of Kings events will be held on Saturday. The

government condemns in the strongest terms anyone who condones rape and

sexual violence or suggest that responsible teat. In these crimes

rests with the victims. Responsibility always unequivocally

rests with the perpetrator of these serious crimes. Any form of violence

against women or girls is absolutely unacceptable. The impact of domestic

and sexual violence on victims, visit click, psychologically and

emotionally, cannot be overstated. The government is working closely

with victims and survivors, support services, the police and come and

justice to end these crimes. If women or offences have been

committed, including incitement of violence against women, the

Government would expect local police forces to deal with any offenders

appropriately. The Government does not routinely comment on individual

cases, but the Home Secretary has powers to exclude an individual who

is not a British citizen if she considers their presence in the UK

is not conducive to the public good. This Home Secretary has excluded

more foreign nationals on the grounds of unacceptable behaviour

than any before her. This can and has excluded exclusions over

violence against women. -- included. We are pleased that the Return of

Kings events appear to have been cancelled, and I look forward to a

full discussion, which is due to take place this afternoon. I am sure

we will discuss these issues at length. I welcome her response,

there has been widespread ridicule but also revulsion at the antics of

the group Return of Kings from the respected Police and Crime

Commissioner for Northumberland, parliamentary colleagues around the

house, the member for Rotherham has written to the Minister, widespread

coverage in the media, 63,000 signatures are on the online

petition calling for the events to be banned, so I am glad they are not

going ahead. That is in no measure due to the government, but we need

assurances for the future, as we know that the man has said he could

not stop men attending private meetings. Can I ask the Minister,

she mentions the Home Secretary can exclude individuals from the UK,

what information does the Government hold about the man's plans to travel

here in the future? Would he attract a band? Have you considered

classifying Return of Kings as a prescribed group? Events were

advertised to his followers, which led to plans for

counterdemonstrations in a number of UK cities, creating a threat to

public order and women's safety. The Minister has said the police have

powers to act if they believe that crimes have been committed, does she

believe the threshold for incitement to rape or hate crimes has been met?

What discussions and guidance have been issued to the police on

handling these activities? In relation to the online advertising

of the events, which required participants to give the postcode

pet shop to be admitted, what discussion has the Government had to

take down these offensive posts? These events took place against a

backdrop of a 41% increase of rape in the past year, and the loss of

much specialist revision. 29% of the cuts to local authorities announced

in the 2015 Spending Review could fall on services to support those

suffering violence against women, according to the women's budget

group, 32 refuges have closed between 2010 and 2014, and many rape

crisis centres have told me that they have no guarantee about their

funding after next month. Would the Minister assure the house that that

funding would be continued from April's of the Minister has

mentioned, there will be a debate in Westminster Hall on the role of men

in tackling violence against women, that is welcome, I expect it will

cuddle -- cover perpetrator programmes and compulsory sex and

Russian ship programmes, which we have pressed for the many years. Was

she commit to introducing compulsory sex and Russian ship education as

part of the curriculum in every school? When will the government

ratify and implement the Convention signed in 2012? What is the

explanation for the delay? Can I start by joining the honourable lady

in agreeing that the comments from this individual and the proposals by

this group are absolutely propulsive, and everybody in this

house would join her and me in condemning what they have said. This

has no place in reddish society. The Government is taking all steps we

can to deal with these matters, I would be happy to write to her on

the specifics of what the government can do, because I cannot comment on

individual cases, and much of what she has asked about its operational

matters for local police, and I would be happy to write about what

local police can do and what they are able to do in terms of stopping

these activities. But it would not be appropriate for me to go into

detail here. She has talked about ridicule. I share with her a view

that we should ridicule, we should show contempt and show that these

are the most ridiculous views. She mentioned Vera Baird, I agree, we

should make a point of ridiculing and showing that if we can see that

these are ludicrous comments, people will see that they do not want to be

part of this. She asked about Internet providers. We do talk with

Internet providers on the topic of many subjects, indecent images of

children, the topics of children having access to pornographic

material, and inappropriate material. I would be taking this

point up with the Internet providers when I next see them next month. She

asked about the Istanbul convention. We have an issue on Article 44, and

extraterritoriality matter, we are discussing it with the devolved

administrations. I am not going to ratify the treaty -- Convention

until I am certain we comply with all measures in the convention. We

comply with everything else, but I want to make sure we deal with that

point before we do the ratification. She talked about the debate this

afternoon, I want to pay tribute to the White ribbon campaign, which has

been instrumental in making clear that men do not want to see violence

against women and girls. If I could take her up on a point about the 41%

increase in rates, that is in reported rape. We welcome that. It

shows that victims have the confidence to come forward and our

reporting. If they report those crimes, we can then get convictions,

which are at the highest level they have ever been. The crime survey

shows that the level of this crime is not going up. I welcome that, we

want to see more reporting, I hope she would join me in welcoming that

increase in reporting. I welcome the government's commitment to raising

awareness of sexual and relationship abuse through its campaign. Would

she agreed that more emphasis needs to be put on controlling behaviour

and emotional abuse, which often goes unreported? I thank her for

that question. This campaign has been extremely successful, I am

pleased the Government and announced that we are continuing with that. It

is so important that young people understand what is appropriate,

understand what a normal loving relationship is, as opposed to an

abusive one. She will also note that in December a new offence of

domestic abuse, coercive control, commenced. This new offence, which

has been called for for many years, is difficult, that is why we made

sure we got it right, but we now have the ability to prosecute and

conflict poser offenders who never commit physical violence against

their victims, but do abuse their victims for far too long.

I'd like to thank the Minister for her comments and to share her

condemnation of rape and violence in any form and particularly any

attempt to blame the victims. I wholeheartedly agree that the

responsibility must always remain with the perpetrator. We in the

Scottish National party are also pleased that these events have been

cancelled. The anti-women agenda behind them is reported. In

Scotland, our petition against these events have attracted around 40,000

signatures and members may also be aware that members of the SNP

sponsored an early day motion condemning these sexist and

hate-mongering meetings and the misogyny behind them. In Scotland,

Police Scotland have been working closely with anti-violence against

women organisations and put out a strongly worded statement about the

policing of these events were they to take place. It is obviously

absolutely paramount, I'm sure the Minister agrees, that women are able

to go about their daily life without being subjected to this kind of

intimidation. The Scottish Government and Police Scotland have

worked hard on the investigation of sex crimes in Scotland. The Minister

will be aware that in 2008, the Scottish Crown Office setup a

special crime unit, of which I was proud to be one of the founding

prosecutors, and our conviction rates for rape and violence have

increased but we are still working very hard because these are

difficult crimes to persecute. I would like to associate myself with

the questions raised by the honourable member. That and thank

her for raising these important questions. We do in the SNP would

like to see the Istanbul convention ratified as soon as possible and I'm

sure the Minister can reassure me that she continues to look at that.

She also reassure me, if the Home Secretary becomes aware of plans for

this gentleman, and I use the word loosely, to enter this country, will

she make us aware of that and liaise with other parties on this? I thank

the honourable lady that -- for her comments and assure her that we will

take all steps that we possibly can and what we will do. I will copy you

into my letter for the number. Fit. We will try to ratify this as soon

as possible. I want to pay tribute to all resources across the United

Kingdom these kind of criminals to wreck -- do not recognise borders

and police forces need to work together to make sure that we tackle

these crimes. These crimes are not acceptable in the United Kingdom and

I mean the whole of the United Kingdom. Mr Speaker, I support

strongly what the opposition spokesman had to say from the front

bench. Our cherished liberty of free speech is something which we defend

to our -- to its utmost, but with this freedom must come

responsibility. Can I say to the Minister, I am pretty certain that

on this side of the House, everybody would welcome a proactive engagement

from the Home Secretary and head apartment to not only exclude this

man, who is frankly an embarrassment to all men, but also to prescribe

his organisation as well. I want to reassure my honourable friend that

he will struggle to find a more proactive Home Secretary. This Home

Secretary has excluded more people and has done more to stand up

against violence towards women and girls than any Home Secretary in

history and I am proud to serve in her department. This planned meeting

may well just have been a public that is done by an attention seeker

so insecure in himself that he goes to this length to increase the size

of his following. I am among the many outraged and afraid at the idea

of these meetings, so can she tell everyone that anyone who is planning

on meeting to condone rape will be treated in the same way as anyone

who was meeting to plan murder. I can absolutely sure how that would

be the case because this is a criminal offence and I will also

agree with her statements that perhaps he needs boosting in certain

ways. I will say no more. Can we be robust on who is allowed into the

country and he isn't. Rather than relying on individual police forces,

if Her Majesty's Government is aware that an individual is looking to

incite violence in this country, shouldn't the Government make sure

these people are excluded from our country so that we don't have to put

extra peak -- extra pressure on our police force who have too much to do

already? My honourable friend well understand I cannot comment on

individual cases but I agree with him that it is better to exclude

them to deal with when they are here and this Home Secretary has excluded

more foreign national offenders and foreign nationals than any other. I

can see no possible benefit to this individual being allowed into the UK

now all in the future, so can I add my voice to those members who say

that there is an understanding -- that whilst understanding that

individual cases cannot be discussed, that hopefully she will

be able to discover that theme by saying this person is excluded for

life from the UK. I am sure the honourable gentleman's comments well

have been heard and can I also point out that the police minister has

heard the comments as he is sitting next to me. Whilst sharing the

revulsion of this group's views and the need to exclude them from the

UK, there is a substantial amount of evidence that indicates that they

have no intention to meet up, and instead are doing this only to seek

free publicity. Has the Minister seen any evidence to indicate that

there was a plan to hold any of these events in the UK? I have as

much information as the gentleman -- the honourable gentleman with

regards to whether or not they were actually to be held and I repeat

again that we should treat this group with ridicule. IT welcome the

public revulsion which has -- eyed to welcome the public revulsion

which has led to the cancellation of these events. What will be Minister

do about the buyer lengths and criminality online? I can assure the

honourable member that it does not matter where it happens if something

is a criminal offence. It is a criminal offence online as well. Can

I ask the minister if she would have a view of the weighting of the

community impact of when the police decide to intervene. It can be quite

a black and white decision that the police take, rather than looking at

the wider impact on the community involved. My honourable friend makes

a very good point and I can assure him we will look at those points.

This isn't the first time and it won't be the last that a campaign of

violence and aggression has been orchestrated by the Internet.

Although we hear words by the Government every time there is an

incident, nothing ever seems to happen. Can I press the Minister,

what action will be Government take over the use with which these vile

messages can be distributed over the Internet? I can assure the

honourable lady that this is a criminal offence, to make these

comments, and we do not take it lightly. We work hard and that

length with the Internet service providers, who have a responsibility

to make sure that these messages are not distributed. It has to be said

that this particular individual and his arrogance is only met by his

ignorance, so it must be key that we ensure there are positive role

models out there for young men. The key mistake this man made was to

think any man would want to attend a meeting that was so vile. I agree

with my friend. On the very day that we are talking about the positive

role men can play in preventing violence, does the Minister agree

with me that this is just distracting from the positive role

men can play in ending misogyny. The honourable gentleman makes a very

good point. I am looking forward to debating that this afternoon. Men

have a very important role to play and the vast, vast majority do so.

Do you agree that this is symptomatic of a much bigger trend

towards misogyny that we are seeing in all sorts of media, including

twitter, that we are seeing internationally, and I wonder what

is being done to approach this with a zero tolerance approach? The

honourable gentleman leads me into the possibility of an answer that

could last for many days as we look into what can be done

internationally to promote women and women's rights, for example the

action being taken to tackle the now genital mutilation, the action on

forced marriage, but all people have the right to live equally and these

views are not acceptable. It seems there is some ridiculous irony that

these events have been cancelled for the safety of his supporters given

the nature of the events. I join everybody in condemnation of this

sick individual. I would like to pay tribute to the group 's across the

country, particularly in Glasgow, who have helped to force the

cancellation of these events, and also pay to beat to the police who

have been working with these campaigners to ensure their safety

at the event. I support the unequivocal statement that went out

that said sex without consent is rape. I agree with the lady and pay

tribute to Police Scotland and police forces across the country who

work to deal with these crimes and ensure that method is heard. I agree

with the Minister that most men will not support these file, anti-women,

misogynistic, pro-rape views and I am sure that members on both sides

of the House will unequivocally support the Home Secretary to make

sure that Roosh V never makes -- that's that British soil. What more

is the British Government doing to make sure that the small number of

individuals who support these are borrowed views learned the error of

their ways and that these are borrowed views are not acceptable in

decent society? -- these dreadful views. Education and making sure

that men who have these views understand that they are wrong is

very important. This is the police campaign and it is part of the work

we are doing on ending gang and youth violence and exploitation,

because young men who are in a circle where it is seen as being

acceptable to exploit young women and to treat them as no more than

sex objects have to be educated that this is simply not right. At this

event in Glasgow has been cancelled shows that people do make Glasgow.

Will the Minister agree with me that any event planned to coach men how

to coerce women into having sex is not a free-speech issue, but the

event issue of public safety and order. Will she also condemn me in

condemning the sick minded halfwits who were intending to attend these

events and welcome that they will now be sitting in their underpants

eating cold ravioli this weekend. He conjures quite an image! Such

grotesque misogynist and homophobic views are not masculine, they are a

perversion of masculinity and cowardly. We'll be Minister welcomed

the initiative is by the National Union of Students and student unions

to train bar staff to spot signs of sexual harassment? We need to stamp

that out in all society. I am interested in what he says, I would

be interested in learning more, this is the kind of initiative we need to

see to make sure it is clear that nobleman can ever be guilty of

inciting her own rape -- no woman. It is committed by the perpetrators,

they are the only people responsible. The Minister will be

aware that I wrote to the Home Secretary in response to the outrage

of my constituents who contacted me. The Minister may be aware the

Government of Australia have publicly stated that they will

continue to monitor any application from Roosh V or anybody associated

with the Return of Kings group. Can I get an assurance that the UK

Government will do likewise for any individual associated with this

group who are promoting a diet of hate? I can assure him that the Home

Secretary takes a very close eye on all matters like this and that the

Government takes every step it can. Business questions. Will be leader

give us the forthcoming business and all that jazz? Not much