Portsmouth councillor says 'men are victims' as he slams 'hideous' gender pay gap policy - prompting a backlash

Tory Councillor Luke Stubbs blasted national guidelines on the gender pay gap during a Portsmouth City Council employment committee meeting stating it creates ‘a fake narrative of victimhood’.

It comes after a report showed younger women at the council earn more, although when all ages are taken into account women are paid less overall.

A report for councillors showed how in 2019 women working for the council earned on average 9.57 per cent less than their male counterparts.

However, a breakdown of ages revealed full-time female employees aged between 22 and 29 earned 20.12 per cent more than men of the same age.

Cllr Stubbs said: ‘On a national level the whole thing is based on trying to create a fake narrative of victimhood. In their 20s and 30s women are paid more than men.

‘There's been a lot of pressure, particularly for starting jobs, to positively discriminate in favour of women even though women are paid more than men.

‘It's a hideous policy. No one ever says it because we live in an age of political correctness where you are silenced for saying the truth, but the truth of it is men are victims. Men are not treated fairly in today's world.’

In 2019 women made up 70 per cent of the council workforce and men made up 30 per cent.

Speaking at the meeting Lib Dem Cllr Darren Sanders said: 'I think the picture is a bit more muddied than Cllr Stubbs says. There's a disproportionately older workforce that are female.

'I don't think this is male bashing.'

Cllr Claire Udy, who attended the meeting as a spectator, slammed Cllr Stubbs’ attitude. She said: 'I'd like to thank Cllr Stubbs for celebrating International Women's Day two days early and I'd remind him that international men's day is every day.

'I think his argument goes against what is really the issue here which is massive pay inequality for older women.

‘While there's discrepancy at a younger age they are more likely to be for more menial jobs.

'As soon as women become professional they are treated differently to their male counterparts, partly because they are expected to be mothers.'

Officers at the meeting agreed to reword part of the report to show how the council was working to employ a more diverse staff base, rather than focusing on gender.