Shipley MP Philip Davies has dismissed the Women's Equality Party's decision to put up a candidate to contest his seat in the General Election as a "publicity stunt".

The party's leader Sophie Walker is running against Mr Davies, who has held the seat since 2005, in the election on Thursday, June 8.

Ms Walker said: “Philip Davies’s track record of misogyny should have no place in Parliament. It is a national embarrassment that he sits on the Women and Equalities Committee. Shipley deserves an MP that will represent the needs and interests of all its constituents, instead of one who spends constituency time on a self-indulgent anti-women campaign."

She added: "Right now if you live in Shipley, your MP is best known in Parliament as a sexist whose favourite pastime is inventing long speeches to prevent other MPs from passing important legislation such as the provision of free hospital parking for carers and compulsory sex and relationships education in schools."

Mr Davies, a Conservative, welcomed the announcement, but claimed it was a publicity stunt by the party.

He said: "She is very welcome. I am a democrat. The more people stand the better. I'm very happy for her to stand in Shipley.

"I am happy with my track record over the last 12 years where I have been working hard for the people of Shipley and I am happy that the people of Shipley will choose the right candidate to represent them in Parliament.

"It is a publicity stunt for the Women's Equality Party."

Members of the Women's Equality Party laid a wreath of white roses at the door of Mr Davies's office in February this year in protest at his attempts to block a new law to protect victims of domestic abuse.

Mr Davies had opposed the Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence Bill, arguing that it is "sexist" to say the focus should only be on violence against women and that he stands for "true equality" where all people are treated equally.

But Mr Davies's approach had been criticised by the Women’s Equality Party and he challenged them to put up a candidate.

The Women's Equality Party was set up by comedian and TV presenter Sandi Toksvig and Catherine Mayer in 2015, as they claimed there was a need for a political party in the United Kingdom to campaign for gender equality to the benefit of all.

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