Presidents Club to dissolve after reports of groping at Dorchester fundraiser

The high-profile Presidents Club charity was forced to close down on Thursday less than 24 hours after an undercover investigation revealed alleged groping of women hired as 'hostesses' at one of its fundraising events.

Like people running from a burning building, guests who attended the event fell over themselves detach themselves from the charity.

Great Ormond Street children’s hospital said it would be handing back donations as the Presidents Club said it would distribute its remaining funds and close down.

At the male-only event in London’s famous Dorchester hotel last Thursday, high flyers from the worlds of business, celebrity and politics gathered to eat expensive food, raise money for good causes and burnish their philanthropic credentials while served by 130 hostesses.

Lots up for auction included a cosmetic surgery voucher “to spice up your wife”, a night in lap-dancing clubs and a tour of the Bank of England including tea with governor Mark Carney.

The Bank moved swiftly to distance itself from the event after two reporters from the Financial Times posing as hostesses revealed the widespread harassing of female staff by guests.

Event organisers had selected women who were “tall, thin and pretty”, ordering them to wear short dresses with high heels and matching underwear. They also had to sign non-disclosure agreements.

Many of the hostesses reported that they were groped, sexually harassed and propositioned by various guests at the after party. They claim to have had been fondled, had hands up their skirts and were invited to private dinners in the men’s hotel rooms.

A 19-year-old girl working on the night reported on a conversation with a guest saying he had openly asked her if she was a prostitute. “I’ve never done this before, and I’m never doing it again,” she was reported as saying.

After the report emerged overnight, the Presidents Club on Thursday said: “The organisers are appalled by the allegations of bad behaviour at the event asserted by the Financial Times reporters. Such behaviour is totally unacceptable. The allegations will be investigated fully and promptly and appropriate action taken.”

One of the attendants that night was Conservative minister Nadhim Zahawi who tweeted on Wednesday: “I do unequivocally condemn this behaviour. The report is truly shocking. I will never attend a men-only function ever.”

Theresa May's spokesman said “the MP probably regrets his decision to go. (...) Mr Zahawi clearly did attend the event briefly and has himself said he felt uncomfortable at it at the point at which the hostesses were introduced by the host.”

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson said the report showed "what a rotten, sexist culture is still alive and kicking in parts of the business community".

The Bank of England released a statement on the issue saying it had not approved a prize for the auction that offered a tour of the Bank. The prize had previously been donated to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal and its successful bidder had re-auctioned the prize.

“The unauthorised re-auctioning of the prize at the Presidents Club dinner was clearly against the spirit of the original donation. The Bank has therefore made clear that it has been withdrawn.”