Women have 'opened legs but not brains'

An Ealing Conservative Councillor has defended comments she made on a satellite TV debate.

Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians have criticised the Elthorne ward representative, Anita Kapoor, who was speaking on Sky 805's Venus channel.

Ms Kapoor said:' As woman I’m afraid we have a lot to answer for - we’ve opened our legs but not our brains to understand that with freedom and financial independence also comes responsibility.''

Labour's parliamentary candidate for Ealing Central & Acton, Dr Rupa Huq described the remarks as 'vicious sexism' which were 'not only offensive to women, but to all parents who want the best for their children'.

The Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Ealing Central & Acton, Cllr Jon Ball said: 'I am profoundly disappointed that an Ealing Conservative is spouting this outdated and offensive dogma, which is totally at odds with the progressive views that the vast majority of Ealing residents hold. It is usually UKIP who come out with bizarre statements like this.'

Ms Kapoor - who was elected in 2010 and is on the corporate parent panel of Ealing Council - which oversees children in care - says the comments have been taken out of context and they were discussing the problem of adoption.

'' We have women who have had child after child and all these children have been taken into care. I have been asked to apologise. First show me a way to resolve this. The distress caused to these children is unacceptable to me. See the statistics.

''I stand for the plight of these children, some who wil never get fostered or adopted. I stand for them. We as a society owe them that much to debate or discuss this. Certain political speculators may gain political points but the children cannot be brushed under the carpet and they are worth every stone that these political people throw at me. Let the debate begin.''

6th February 2014