Labour peer tears into Reform MP Sarah Pochin over her video about domestic violence during the World Cup
Pochin has come under fire after telling the England football team to ‘keep winning’ to avoid a spike in domestic violence rates
A Labour peer tore into Reform MP Sarah Pochin on live television after she posted a video urging the England football team to “keep winning” to prevent a spike in domestic abuse incidents.
Speaking to Sky News from Wigan last night, Labour peer Thangham Debbonaire criticised Pochin for failing to stand up for women and putting the responsibility on footballers to stop domestic violence from happening.
In a controversial video shared on her X profile yesterday, Pochin said: “England won the football last night, and thank goodness they did, because on the occasions England lose their football matches, the incidences of domestic violence go through the roof.”
She added: “So boys, keep winning.”
The Sky News reporter challenged Pochin on why she had said that.
The Reform politician defended her comments, saying that “the statistics back up what I have to say” and that when the England football team loses “women who are on the end of domestic violence suffer dreadfully”.
Research by Lancaster University from 2014 did indeed reveal a shocking 38% increase in reports of domestic violence against women when England loses and a 26% increase when the team wins or draws.
However, Debbonaire was quick to point out: “The people who are responsible for domestic violence are the men who do it, and you didn’t say that.”
“You’re absolutely right that at times of sporting events, domestic violence does spike, but the people who are responsible aren’t the footballers, and you didn’t talk about that,” she added.
Pochin then appeared to laugh. The former Labour MP for Bristol West responded: “I’m glad you think it’s funny but it’s really not.”
Debbonaire repeated that Pochin had not put responsibility on the men who abuse.
The Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby then claimed: “That’s so wrong to twist my words, I’ve been very clear about what I say.”
Pochin said she couldn’t believe the Labour peer wouldn’t stand with her on the issue.
Debbonaire said: “Because you are not standing up for women, you’re putting responsibility on footballers.”
The Reform MP claimed she had never said that the footballers were responsible for preventing domestic violence incidents.
Debbonaire hit back: “You did, you said ‘Come on England’, you didn’t say anything about the perpetrators, […] and I think that’s really clear.”
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
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