Petition is in reaction to Scottish Government

A former lapdancer has mounted a campaign to save Glasgow’s adult entertainment venues.

The city council has opened a consultation which could see sexual entertainment venues (SEVs) banned.

But Mandy Rose Jones has set up a Change.org petition through her blog, The Empowered Woman Project, in a bid to counter the move.

Four lap dancing venues operate in Glasgow; Diamond Dolls, Platinum Lace, Seventh Heaven and Forbidden.

The Scottish Government believe SEVs should be licensed and has advised every local authority to gather evidence to see if the public, workers and businesses agree.

Jones said: "I want to live in a Scotland which is progressive and recognises the right of a woman to have autonomy over her own body."

The petition has so far gathered 1,000 signatures.

It states: "The brainchild of one Sandra White MSP, over the last 15 years has been to launch public consultation after public consultation in attempts to close down Glasgow’s adult entertainment venues.

"The latest is an ongoing consultation which ends in August seeking to license the clubs in a way which could see them closed down for good.

"When I was on national TV a few days ago debating the issue with Sandra, she said she hadn’t engaged with dancers many years ago when they petitioned for her to meet with them because she didn’t 'believe' it came from the girls themselves."

One supporter wrote: "The women and men in this profession are all old enough, strong enough, psychologically, emotionally and socially conscious enough to make informed decisions on their own lives."