Exclusive: Presidents Club guest defends sleaze dinner, saying 'it was no Roman orgy'
The man told Sky News there was nothing "sinister" about the men-only event and many guests had faced "peer pressure" to attend.
Friday 26 January 2018 08:55, UK
A businessman who attended the controversial Presidents Club fundraiser at the centre of sexual harassment allegations has denied it was a "Roman orgy".
In an exclusive interview with Sky News, the man insisted there was nothing "sinister" about the men-only event at London's Dorchester Hotel and many of the guests had faced "peer pressure" to attend.
Female staff reported being groped and propositioned at the charity gala which had a 360-strong guest list including celebrities and leading figures from finance, business and politics.
The man - who asked not to be named - told Sky News: "I was certainly shocked at the scale and way it's been portrayed.
"It's been painted as some kind of Roman orgy. That's how it seems to have been painted and that's miles away from being the truth.
"I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few guys who behaved in a handsy way or made inappropriate innuendos to girls. That wouldn't shock me in the same way it wouldn't shock me to hear some similar comments at a football match or rugby club.
"When blokes get together they can be silly sometimes. It absolutely wasn't the overarching mood of the event."
The businessman acknowledged there was "an atmosphere in the room" and the event involved "lots of pretty girls glamorously dressed".
"I would be staggered if the girls didn't realise what kind of night it was," he added.
"It was no different to a bog standard waiting job than a girl serving drinks in a night club.
"These men have children, they have daughters, probably similar ages to a lot of those girls and they're going to behave appropriately, and that's how the people around me behaved, like normal, sensible, middle-aged men."
The man added that many of the guests had been invited by business acquaintances and colleagues and "feel a bit of peer pressure to go along".
"They want to support the charity and go for a night out. Don't think there's anything more sinister than that," he said.
A waitress who worked at the event said she was not harassed but one of the guests invited her to his room.
She told Sky News: "The men I interacted with were polite. They were friendly. No one harassed me in that sense.
"The only thing was that someone offered me their room key but as soon as I said no and declined, that was fine. He didn't take it any further.
"I just removed myself from the situation but also they didn't harass me either.
"There were hundreds of men there but everyone I spoke to were very personable. I did not have an issue."
Theresa May said she was "appalled" to hear of the sexual harassment allegations uncovered by a Financial Times reporter.
The Prime Minister's spokesman also hinted the Government could crack down on gagging orders after the more than 100 female hosts at the Dorchester Hotel dinner were ordered to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Speaking in Davos, Switzerland, Mrs May said: "I thought that sort of approach to women, that sort of objectification of women was something that we were leaving behind.
"What worries me is that it's not just about this event. It's about what it says about this wider issue in society about attitudes to women."
Questioned about the newly-promoted children and families minister Nadhim Zahawi attending the event held last Thursday, Mrs May said she understood he "left early".
Mr Zahawi claims he arrived at the dinner at 8pm and left 90 minutes later as he felt "uncomfortable" - but "did not see any of the horrific events".
David Meller, who was joint chair of the Presidents Club, has been forced to resign from the Department for Education's board and the club has scrapped all further events.
Two hospitals, including Great Ormond Street, have announced they will hand back all funds received from its fundraisers.