Tory MP roasted after suggesting women playing ‘male’ characters is pushing young men into crime

This just in in culture wars bonkersness: a Tory MP has been left clutching his pearls at the prospect of women playing traditionally male (but very much fictional) characters, claiming for some reason that them doing so helps push young men into crime.

Speaking at an International Men’s Day debate, MP for lucky Don Valley Nick Fletcher – who recently denied faking visits to his constituency after he posted the same image of it three times – seemed to suggest women playing James Bond, Doctor Who and other (again fictional) characters is leaving men with no positive role models, meaning they have no choice but to go on criminal rampages.

He said:

“Everywhere, not at least within the cultural sphere, there seems to be a call from a tiny, yet very vocal minority, that every male character or good role model must have a female replacement.

“One only needs to look at the discussions surrounding who will play the next James Bond. And it’s not just James Bond.

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“In recent years, we have seen Doctor Who, Ghostbusters, Luke Skywalker, the Equaliser, all replaced by women, and men are left with the Krays [twins Ronnie and Reggie Kray] and Tommy Shelby [from Peaky Blinders].”

He went on: “Is there any wonder we are seeing so many young men committing crime?

“These programmes make crime look cool.”

Jodie Whittaker is the first female Doctor Who while an all-female line-up starred in the 2016 remake of Ghostbusters. How this is linked to crime is absolutely unclear.

So unsurprisingly, Fletcher got a good roasting from everyone from high-profile journalists, comedians, MPs and even Fred off First Dates after he spluttered his nonsense.

It comes in a week where prime minister Boris Johnson was roasted for wanging on about another fictional character Peppa Pig. It’s a shame the party hasn’t learnt its lesson and come back into the real world.

Meanwhile, following press coverage about his speech, Fletcher issued a statement, claiming his “rather nuanced point” was “misconstrued”.

He said he was trying to explain that there are not enough positive male role models on screen, instead ones that are “increasingly criminal”.

“My point was, in fact, a straightforward one and in no way linked Dr Who being a female to crime being committed by men.

“As has been alleged rather lazily by several individuals, I did not link a Dr Who being female to crime being committed by men. In fact I was making a statement that boys and young men also need positive role models within the media, just as women do.”

Oh dear. With MPs like Fletcher, is there any wonder that so many young people – male or otherwise – are choosing not to vote at all?