The sports and equalities minister today hit back at criticism of her suggestion that cheerleading would get more women into sport.
Helen Grant said her claims that there were plenty of feminine sports which allowed girls to look “radiant”, such as cheerleading, Zumba and roller-skating, had been “taken out of context”.
Anti-sexism campaigners called her views “discouraging” and “the wrong approach”, but Ms Grant said she had been misunderstood.
“Disappointing to see comments I made to the Telegraph on women in sport now taken completely out of context,” she said. “Was making the point that there is a sport or type of physical activity out there for all women.”
In the interview with the newspaper, Ms Grant said: “There are some wonderful sports which you can do and perform to a very high level and I think those participating look absolutely radiant and very feminine such as ballet, gymnastics, cheerleading and even roller-skating.”
