Young men are being turned towards a life of crime because Dr Who is a woman, a Tory MP suggested today.

Nick Fletcher used a debate about International Men’s Day – which was on November 19 – to bemoan a lack of positive male role models on the big screen.

And he drew a link between crimes committed by young men with a slew of previously male on-screen roles shown in a positive light being taken on or replaced by women in the lead.

Among those he cited were Dr Who, whose latest incarnation is Jodie Whittaker, the Ghostbusters – whose original all-male team was replaced by an all-female one for a 2016 reboot – and Luke Skywalker being replaced by Daisy Ridley’s Rey.

He said that more positive male role models could help combat violence against women and girls, the vast majority of which is carried out by men and boys. 

In a Westminster Hall debate this afternoon he said: ‘Everywhere, not least within the cultural sphere, there seems to be a call from a tiny, yet very vocal minority that every male character or good role model must have a female replacement.

‘One only needs to look at the discussion surrounding who will play the next James Bond.

‘And it’s not just James Bond. In recent years, we have seen Doctor Who, Ghostbusters, Luke Skywalker, the Equaliser, all replaced by women.

‘And men are left with the Krays and Tommy Shelby.

‘Is there any wonder we are seeing so many young men committing crime?

‘These programmes make crime look cool. Trust me, a lifetime in prison is not cool and neither is living with the memory of a stabbed son or daughter.’

Mr Fletcher’s comments came as he led the International Men’s Day Debate in Westminster Hall.

The MP for Don Valley highlighted the difficulties faced by young boys – with many ‘lagging behind’ at school.

He stressed the need for boys to have ‘positive’ male role models and pressed the Government to help efforts to encourage more men to become teachers.

Mr Fletcher also told the debate: ‘I’d also like to reiterate something that seems to be very topical at the moment – although much more for women than men – and that is the need for men to have their own identity and for masculinity to be something that can be celebrated at times rather than continually vilified.’

Mr Fletcher earlier also called for boys to ‘have their own clubs – just as girls need their own’.

He said: ‘Indeed, it’s a wonderful thing that girls’ football is on TV, it’s terrific that female tennis stars are finally starting to be paid as much as their male counterparts, and as a father of a daughter myself, I wish to applaud all who have corrected this wrong and the hundreds of other injustices.’

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk

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