Tory election candidate once suggested women should ‘keep knickers on’ to avoid being raped

Former BBC radio presenter chosen to contest safe Conservative seat

A former BBC presenter who said women should “keep their knickers on” during a radio debate on rape has been selected as a Tory election candidate.

Nick Conrad, who resigned from his role at BBC Radio Norfolk last week, was selected to contest Broadland for the Conservatives in the upcoming poll, the local association confirmed.

The outgoing MP Keith Simpson tweeted: “Last night Nick Conrad was the overwhelming choice by Broadland Conservatives to be my replacement.

“Nick is an old friend and familiar from BBC Radio Norfolk – clever, charming and a One Nation Tory – bootiful!”

But the move sparked a fresh row over Mr Conrad’s comments in a live discussion of the case of footballer Ched Evans, who was convicted of rape in 2011. His conviction was later quashed.

During the conversation, Mr Conrad suggested women were “partially responsible” for being sexually assaulted if they gave off the wrong signals.

He said: “I think women need to be more aware of a man’s sexual desire.

“When you’re in that position that you are about to engage in sexual activity there’s a huge amount of energy in the male body.

“There’s a huge amount of will and intent and it’s very difficult for many men to say no when they are whipped up into a bit of a storm.”

He added: “It’s the old adage about if you yank a dog’s tail then don’t be surprised when it bites you.

“You can’t keep snakes in the garden and think they’ll only bite your neighbours.”

Mr Conrad said rape was “absolutely abhorrent” but added: “If you tease, if you jump into bed naked with a man, if you give him all the signals and then he acts upon them, then you are partially responsible.

“What I’m trying to say is that women also have to understand that when a man’s given certain signals, he’ll wish to act upon them and if you don’t wish to give out the wrong signals, it’s best probably to keep your knickers on and not get into bed with him.”

Mr Conrad later apologised for the “ill-judged” comments and offered his apologies “to anybody who was offended”.

His selection comes a day after Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns resigned in the wake of revelations over his knowledge about the role of a Tory assembly candidate in the collapse of a rape trial.

Boris Johnson described the comments as "completely unacceptable" when asked about the selection on a visit to Scotland.

Mr Johnson said: "Those comments are completely unacceptable, he has apologised long ago but I can't stress that those comments are completely unacceptable."

Labour’s Jess Phillips said: “So the Tories seem to be supporting as a candidate man on bail for numerous charges of sexual assault, helping to collapse rape trials and telling rape victims they should have kept their knickers on. But yeah they total give a toss about women.”

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said the comments were "despicable" and said Mr Johnson should insist he is dropped as a candidate.

She said: “The fact that Boris Johnson has stood by the Conservative candidate who says victims of rape are to blame, rather than their attackers, is further evidence that the party is infected with sexism from top to bottom.

“Nick Conrad's views should be consigned to the dustbin of history. They have no place in the 21st century, let alone in parliament. He is not fit to be an MP and it would be an affront to women everywhere if he becomes one. He must be immediately dropped as a candidate."