Cheltenham civic chiefs have challenged MP Alex Chalk to get the Conservative government to get strip clubs banned.
Mr Chalk reiterated his opposition to sex entertainment venues (SEVs) recently and his belief that such places should be banned in the spa town.
But Councillor Iain Dobie (LD, College), who represents an area where there is such a venue, has called on the MP to back his words with action in Parliament.
He says the current legislation does not support such bans and it allows “pop up” strip clubs to be set up even if formal licensing applications for SEVs are turned down locally.
Councillor Dobie threw down the gauntlet to the Justice Secretary ahead of this week’s King’s Speech.
This speech sets out the programme of legislation that the Government intend to pursue in the next parliamentary session.
Councillor Dobie said: “Very few residents tell us that sexual entertainment makes a positive contribution to our town and the latest proposed location, right in the town centre and opposite a church, is just not appropriate.
“Our MP will undoubtedly try to make political capital out of this latest SEV proposal by blaming [Cheltenham] public servants.
“But as Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, and an experienced KC, he knows that even if the council refuses this and all other SEV licensing applications, current law allows pop-up strip clubs to open all over town thanks to a totally barmy legal loophole.
“If he really wants to make his point about opposing sexual entertainment then he should back his words with action to get his government to close that loophole.
“There are few more powerful people in the country than Mr Chalk, so if he is serious about supporting a ban then we can expect to see proposals in the King’s Speech next week.”
Previous correspondence with ministers showed that the government had no intention of changing the law, according to the Liberal Democrats.
They say that despite Mr Chalk’s stated opposition to sexual entertainment, the MP had never formally objected to an SEV licence in Cheltenham nor taken part in a consultation on relevant licensing policy.
A spokesperson for Mr Chalk said the MP has a standing objection to SEV licences.
“Cheltenham Borough Council has the power to refuse them but they choose not to” they said.
By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter