A NORTH Yorkshire MP has hit out at a Reform politician for linking England’s World Cup results to domestic abuse rates.
Alison Hume, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby, has criticised comments made by Reform’s Sarah Pochin MP, who suggested that England’s football team needs to keep winning at the World Cup to prevent women from becoming victims of abuse.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, June 24, the Labour MP condemned Ms Pochin’s remarks as “deeply misguided” and argued that such assertions risked trivialising a serious issue.
However, the Reform MP has defended her comments and said suggestions that she was putting the responsibility for domestic abuse on the England team was “a leap too far, and twisting words”.
Ms Hume said: “The Member for Runcorn and Helsby embarrassed this House and herself when she said that the England football team needed to keep winning to keep women safe from domestic abuse.
“Does the Minister agree with me, and with Refuge, that linking domestic violence to football allows perpetrators to avoid accountability for their horrific actions?”
Research by Lancaster University suggests that, while football does not cause domestic abuse, cases rise by 38 per cent when England lose a match and 26 per cent when they win or draw.
Catherine Atkinson, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Victims, replied: “I completely agree with my Honourable Friend.
“Domestic abuse is not caused by football results. It’s caused by perpetrators who make a choice to abuse women.
“Refuge, Women’s Aid and other specialist organisations are clear that suggesting otherwise allows abusers to deflect responsibility and avoid accountability.
“This government is clear that there is no excuse, no context and no mitigating circumstances that make domestic abuse acceptable, and I hope that the Member for Runcorn will reflect on the harm that that kind of framing causes to victims.”
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Ms Pochin originally made the comments in a video posted to social media the day after England won its first World Cup game against Croatia last week.
“England won the football last night, and thank goodness they did,” she said.
“Because on the occasions that England lose their football matches, the incidences of domestic violence go through the roof. So boys, keep winning.”
Defending the comments later on, she added: “My point of raising it today is of course not to put any responsibility on England, they just go out and play football.”
”The point is to say that if they lose then friends, family members need to look out for women that they know suffer at the hands of domestic abusers.”
A spokesperson for the charity Refuge said: “Refuge is deeply concerned by a highly inappropriate social media post from Sarah Pochin MP suggesting that England should win more men’s football World Cup matches to reduce domestic abuse.
“This is not only misleading, but could allow perpetrators to evade accountability.
“We must be clear: football is never an excuse for domestic abuse, and perpetrators cannot continue to be shielded by the myth that football directly causes abuse.
“While major sports tournaments can exacerbate pre-existing behaviours, abuse happens all year round, often hidden and unreported.
“Abusers may use football or alcohol intake as an excuse, but there is never any justification for domestic abuse. It is the abuser’s actions alone that are to blame – not external events or circumstances. It is a choice, and it must be challenged.
“As the World Cup continues, it is more vital than ever that we shift the narrative and give domestic abuse the red card. To show your support for survivors, take action with Refuge now.”
