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Strip clubs are “degrading” and linked to increased rates of female “sexual harassment”, says one Bristol MP who is urging the council to ban them in the city.

Labour’s Bristol West MP, Thangam Debbonaire, is calling on Bristol City Council to stop handing out ‘Sexual Entertainment Venue’ licences (SEVs) which are manadory for all strip clubs.

She would like to see Bristol follow in the footsteps of other Labour-run councils which have stopped handing out SEVs altogether.

It comes after the Bristol Post reported two of the city's most prominent strip clubs – Urban Tiger and Central Chambers – are applying to have their licences renewed this week.

The applications have sparked numerous of complaints from members of the public who claim the clubs are exploitative and in inappropriately prominent city centre locations.

But several strip-club dancers have contacted the paper to say the businesses provide much needed work for women in the city and want “so called feminists” to mind their own business.

One woman said she is sick of being thought of as a “victim of degradation” or “some sort of social deviant” for working in a role which some find distasteful.

Ms Debbonaire believes strip clubs have a wider impact on female equality, attitudes to women and violence against women.

In a series of tweets she said: “Degrading, linked to increased rates of sexual harassment of women inside and outside clubs by men, contributing to ideas of women as objects for men's use/purchase, hope licenses are rejected and we have a city free of Sexual 'Entertainment' Venues one day soon like others are.”

The last Labour government gave local authorities the power to set their own limits on the number on the number of SEV licences it hands out – including the option of setting the limit at zero.

In 2012 Swansea Council successfully passed a motion to stop handing out SEVs.

Up to five venues could be affected if Bristol were to adopt a similar policy.

“[It’s] not a dilemma,” Ms Debbonaire added.

(Image: Jon Kent)

“Ask Swansea. Ask the country of Iceland. People made that comment about making slavery illegal.

“If we tolerate SEVs as legal we are sanctioning all the harms caused to women and girls as a result. They could not be that underground otherwise how would punters find them.

“Hope you will help me to convince others on council! That is where the decision has to take place. Thanks for your support.”

The applications to review the SEV licences for Urban Tiger and Central Chambers will be heard by Bristol City Council on Wednesday, February 28, and Thursday, March 1, respectively.

A Bristol City Council spokesperson said it would be inappropriate for the authority to comment on the applications before they are heard.

The Bristol Post has contacted Urban Tiger and Central Chambers for a comment.