British PM appalled by abuses at sleaze dinner

London - The abuse was revealed in an investigative report by the Financial Times newspaper.

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday said she was "appalled" by reports of sexual harassment at an all-male London charity dinner attended by one of her ministers.
Female hostesses were reportedly groped and propositioned for sex while working at the Presidents Club dinner, attended by around 360 male businessmen and politicians at the luxury Dorchester Hotel last week.
"I was frankly appalled... I thought that this sort of attitude, that objectification of women, was something in the past," May said in a Bloomberg interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Britain's second female prime minister said she would continue to work to ensure that "people value what women can bring to business, to politics".
Asked if any of the victims should speak to the police, her spokesman said: "Any woman who feels she was sexually harassed in the workplace should report it to the police."
The abuse was revealed in an investigative report by the Financial Times newspaper, sparking widespread condemnation and forcing the Presidents Club to close on Wednesday.
Businessman David Meller was sacked from the Department for Education board over his role as joint chairman of the club.
Children and families minister Nadhim Zahawi has also been forced to defend his choice to attend the dinner last week, which he said he left early. Financial Times journalist Madison Marriage told the BBC she was "groped several times" while working undercover at the dinner, and said other hostesses were sexually harassed.
The women were told to wear black underwear, had their phones taken away from them and had to sign non-disclosure agreements at the start of the event, the FT said.
May's spokesman said the premier "will look at the way these non-disclosure agreements are applied to see if changes are required," without giving further detail.
Female hostesses groped at London event
> Female hostesses were reportedly groped and propositioned for sex while working at the Presidents Club dinner.
> The event was attended by around 360 male businessmen and politicians at the luxury Dorchester Hotel.
> The abuse was revealed in an investigative report by the Financial Times newspaper.
> The PM's spokesman says: "Any woman who feels she was sexually harassed in the workplace should report it to the police."