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MP John Leech
MP and students in rape letter row
Laura Thistlethwaite6/ 3/2008
A row has erupted between a student union representative and MP John Leech over a letter sent following the rape of a young woman in Withington.
Women’s officer Elizabeth Somerville has accused John Leech of blaming students for making too much noise, meaning residents take less notice if they hear screams or shouting, in a personal letter he sent to the NUS campaigner.
In the letter to Ms Somerville, Mr Leech said a constituent had written to him after police enquired in Withington – near where a young student was raped on Mauldeth Road – about any noises they heard that night.
It stated: "My constituent explained that shouts and screams late at night is the norm in this part of Withington and therefore when people hear noise late at night there inclined to turn over and go back to sleep rather than to assume that someone is in need of help.
"She wanted me to alert you to this matter and urge you to do all you can to encourage students not to make noise late at night so that when locals hear screams and shouts they know to raise the alarm.
"I appreciate that this is a small minority of students that are responsible for this noise and that students make a valuable contribution towards south Manchester and that I am sure they would not want to be responsible for compromising the safety of their fellow students and residents."
Ms Somerville said she felt Mr Leech was passing the blame on to students – an allegation he strongly denies. She said: "To blame background noise for the 4am rape of a student is to shift the burden of responsibility away from the rapist himself and towards all students.
"After Saturday’s well attended march about Violence Against Women which saw community and student activists coming together to say no to rape it is very disappointing to see John Leech attempting to destroy these burgeoning community ties."
Mr Leech said: "I am absolutely outraged. This was a private letter which I sent to Ms Somerville, it is a downright cheek for her to suggest I am in any way blaming students. I am not anti-student and this is a very serious issue which I raised about personal safety, to try and prevent such attacks."
Most recent 2 of 6 user comments
She is a fiercely independent Student Officer who is a feminist and strong advocate above all else. On campus she works with female Lib Dem activists (so much so that she backed one to take on a major role this year) and I know plenty of students of all political colours who are outraged with the latest nonsense from John Leech.
He likes to claim the student vote won him the election on top up fees and Iraq however he will stop at nothing in posturing to the worst of the community.
Last year's Students in Withington meeting "Heaven or Hell?" showed where the Lib Dems stand on students in Manchester. Quick to take their votes but just as quick to sell them out to Daily Mail reading NIMBY morons! His complains about student noise illustrate that he is nothing more than a jumped up Cllr.
10/03/2008 at 23:19
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A newspaper article has just been published about how a rape occurred, seven people heard her screams, but no-one thought it was necessary to do anything (see http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/hounslowchiswick/display.var.2096313.0.student_raped_polish_woman_for_not_showing_him_respect.php)
I think we would all take AJ's comments more seriously if he or she stopped hiding behind a nick name, and didn't bash off a quick, grammatically incorrect, vitriolic comment on his or her return from the pub (their comment posted at 23:19)
11/03/2008 at 19:55