Married Tory councillor is suspended for dressing up as a woman in protest at proposals for a 6pm curfew for all men after Sarah Everard’s murder
- Mark Deacon, Conservative councillor for Plymouth, posted image on Facebook
- Said he would wear a floral pink dress and long black wig if curfew was imposed
- He has been suspended from his role and has issued an apology
A married Conservative councillor has been suspended after dressing up as a woman on Facebook in protest against proposed a 6pm curfew for men after Sarah Everard‘s murder.
Mark Deacon posted an image of himself in a floral pink dress and long black wig – saying it is how he would dress if a curfew were imposed.
The councillor from Plymouth, Devon, who is also an NHS nurse, has issued an apology and has been suspended from his role.
His initial post read: ‘If the Green Party and some Labour party politicians get their way and impose this ridiculous 6pm curfew on men, then I’m going to wear my dress more often.’
Twitter user @Miss-Eastgate- shared a screenshot of Cllr Deacon’s original tweet, saying: ‘Plymouth City Council, really?
Mark Deacon (pictured) posted an image of himself in a floral pink dress and long black wig – saying its how he’d dress if a curfew were imposed
‘Mark Deacon, you should be ashamed of yourself. Couldn’t delete this fast enough, it seems. ‘
The Conservative Party has confirmed that Cllr Deacon has been suspended with immediate effect.
And the Conservative Group leader Nick Kelly has now confirmed an internal investigation will take place, and shall commence ‘as soon as possible’.
He said: ‘Following a social media post Cllr Mark Deacon made on his Facebook account on Saturday, March 13 2021 which generated lots of differing views being shared about men being subject to a 6pm curfew,
‘The Plymouth Conservative Council Group decided the most appropriate course of action was to suspend Cllr Deacon for an investigation to take place into his actions.
‘This investigation will be in accordance with our Group rules and shall commence as soon as possible.
‘Cllr Deacon has removed his post and has made a public apology on his Facebook page for any offence he may have caused.’
Plymouth Labour’s cabinet member for customer focus and community safety Cllr Sally Haydon said: ‘It’s extremely disappointing to see a senior councillor make a mockery of women’s deeply-felt worries about the issue of male violence.
‘It is not befitting of the office of councillor and a member of the shadow cabinet of this council to poke fun at concerns of this nature. I welcome his suspension and I hope Councillor Deacon will take some time to reflect on the anger his post has generated, to properly understand why it has caused such offence and offer a full apology for his actions.’
Many people commented on the Twitter post, praising Miss Eastgate for sharing the image.
Twitter used Ruby Nation said: ‘Thank you so much for starting the ball rolling by highlighting this appalling behaviour.
‘You are an absolute legend.’
And Nina Elliott simply said: ‘Disgraceful!’
The conservative councillor (pictured) for Plymouth, Devon, has issued an apology and has been suspended from his role
Labour parliamentary candidate for Plymouth Moor View Charlotte Holloway was also appalled by Cllr Deacon’s post.
She said on Facebook: ‘This morning I have emailed Conservative Cllr for Southway Mark Deacon asking him to urgently delete and apologise for his comments last night.
‘I’m so sorry to the female Southway residents who have been the victims of violence who would have to wake up to this individual’s lack of decency.
Cllr Deacon has since removed the post and issued an apology for ‘any upset he may have caused’
‘Great way to spend a Mother’s Day morning! What a week.’
Cllr Deacon has since removed the post and issued an apology for ‘any upset he may have caused.’
Also posted on Facebook, it reads: ‘I wholeheartedly apologise for the comments that I made on a post this Saturday Afternoon.
‘I didn’t intend any offence that my comments might have caused to a section of the public.’
Cllr Deacon has been approached for comment.