Strippers in Edinburgh have sensationally been told that they will be allowed to keep their jobs- as long as they keep their clothes on when they dance.
We previously told how councillors in Edinburgh voted to shut down all four strip clubs in the capital using new powers bestowed upon them by the Scottish Government.
This decision led to mass protests by strippers in the capital, with the United Sex Workers organisation raising £20,000 to fight the council under equality laws reports the Scottish Express.
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They claimed that shutting strip clubs would lead more women to underground and illegal sex work as they have no safe place to work in.
Now, in an extraordinary ruling, those employed in the industry in Edinburgh have been told they can stay on in their jobs as long as they leave their clothes on.
About 100 dancers jobs are under-threat due to the potential closures which were voted through under the former SNP/Labour administration.
The decision came as local authorities were given powers to take licenses away from sexual entertainment venues and reject any new applications.
Deputy leader of the Labour-run City of Edinburgh Council Mandy Watt claimed that the adult venues can remain open as long as the women dance with their clothes on.
She said: "I understand concerns about people losing jobs but the venues could apply to stay open. All they need to do is not insist on women dancing naked. They don't need to do that to operate.
"I wouldn't go to these venues to meet them because that would be inappropriate for a councillor. I believe the ban was the right decision because these clubs disempower women.
"They are not helpful for the view society has of women and their place in the world. I want to see women being treated with respect."
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Georgie, a dancer from Edinburgh, was scathing in her rebuke of Ms Watt's comments. She said: "I say this to feminists such as Mandy Watt... work is work and stripping is real work. Many people do labour for the sole purpose of being able to pay rent and buy food. Stripping is no different."
The United Sex Workers (USW) union are reportedly launching a judicial review against the council in a last-ditch attempt to keep the strip clubs open.
They claimed that a victory for them would prove an example to the rest of the UK that local authorities cannot just close down their place of work.
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