A STORM is gathering over Alcester Court Leet’s refusal to let women stand for office or even vote in its elections.
Last October the Redditch and Alcester Standard told how an appeal to even speak at the annual Court Leet elections was denied to two women, Kathrin Foster and Emma Randle.
The male dominated body, which dates back centuries, promised to discuss diversifying the Court, but this week the High Bailiff, Paul Stephens, issued a statement arguing to diminish the tradition to a ‘sexist movement’ was ‘wrong and abrasive’:
He said: “Alcester Court Leet today simply put is 18 men who work hard without remuneration for the good of the tradition and colour of the Court Leet and the town and Manor of Alcester, to simply denigrate this to a sexist movement is both wrong and abrasive.”
He went on to say although women could not be ‘jurymen’ – who had the vote – or officers, it was a privilege to work alongside them.
He concluded: “Equality does not always have to mean integration or inclusion, it has to be of a mutually respected movement where both can co-exist and work with each other. Opportunity is never far away to achieve this and to not encroach without due care and attention.
“Alcester Court Leet as it stands today is not broken, does not need a facelift nor upgrading, and should be able to exist freely to work without prejudice or discord for the good of the town as well as any other group no matter their gender memberships.
It will carry on until it sees fit to maybe including women for the tradition to survive in the future.”
His comments have sparked an immediate response and a meeting was held last night to discuss the next step for women to have the vote.
“It’s farcical and it’s not compatible with 2020 – you can’t keep on saying it’s tradition, it’s tradition – they are totally avoiding the issue by failing to have an open discussion on it,” said Emma.
“What if a little girl says to her mum she would like to be part of the Court Leet – what does the mum say? Sorry, you’re not a man?’”
Kathrin added: “The Court Leet is about all of our town, and half the town is made up of women. The High Bailiff has used the word sexist, that’s his choice, but I say they are discriminating against women by not even allowing us a vote.
“We love Alcester and we want to be part of the Court Leet, we can add to it, bring in new ideas and do much more than just make the refreshments.”
Emma said: “Even if Kathrin and I are installed in the stocks, this issue will not go away.”
Bromsgrove, Warwick and Henley also have Court Leets and at all three women vote and hold the highest offices.
