Harriet Harman has expressed sympathy for female ministers who find it difficult “being a woman in a man’s world”, and insisted that men should not be left to run things on their own.
Ms Harman, Labour’s Deputy Leader and the Minister for Women and Equality, said that one of the party’s top two positions should always be held by a woman and that the party would never have a male leader and deputy again, as was the case with Tony Blair and John Prescott.
“I don’t agree with all-male leaderships,” she said in remarks that will be seen as a bid to remain at the top table after the next election.
“Men cannot be left to run things on their own. I think it’s a thoroughly bad thing to have men-only leadership,” she added. Voters were fed up with “boys running the show”, she said. "In a country where women regard themselves as equal, they are not prepared to see men just running the show themselves. I think a balanced team of men and women makes better decisions.”
Asked if she agreed with accusations by Caroline Flint, the former Europe minister, that Gordon Brown uses women ministers as window dressing, she replied: “I can always understand anyone’s frustration about being a woman in a man’s world.”
Ms Harman tried to change the party’s rules shortly after winning the deputy leadership contest, but this was apparently blocked by party chiefs.
Her comments today came as she defended her decision to reappoint a man — Trevor Phillips — to run the Equalities Commission, an organisation which she admitted was giving her “great concern”.
Denying that friendship had clouded her judgment — “He’s not a socialising friend of mine,” she told The Andrew Marr Show on BBC1 — the veteran equalities campaigner conceded that the body which has lost six commissioners under Mr Phillips’s leadership needed to be stable.
Ms Harman will today begin her second week “minding the shop” in Downing Street. Last week her role was overshadowed by a series of interviews and interventions by Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary and deputy Prime Minister in all but name. He takes up the reigns of power later in the summer.
She said this weekend that she was enjoying her temporary role in charge.
“I love it, absolutely love it. I’m like a pit pony, working such long hours I don’t know if it’s day or night. But I really enjoy it.
“The kids have left home, so it's not as if I have to rush home for tea.”
She said that she inherited the office from Mr Prescott, adding “that’s why it’s so big".
Ms Harman sought to play down reports of a row with Lord Mandelson over the extension of maternity leave from nine months to 12, amid suggestions that Lord Mandelson effectively prevented it from being debated at a Cabinet meeting shortly before recess.
“I am foremost in my support for the work of Lord Mandelson,” she said.
Reports that Lord Mandelson is being lobbied by Labour backbenchers to renounce his peerage and stand as an MP in the election in order to be available for a leadership contest were dismissed as a “silly season” story by sources close to the Business Secretary.
There were claims in Sunday newspapers that two unnamed Labour MPs want Lord Mandelson to take advantage of new laws being put in place which would allow life peers to give up their titles.
A return to the Commons would allow him to stand as a Blairite champion in the election for leader if Mr Brown is ousted or stands down following a Labour defeat.
Lord Mandelson's political spokesman said: “It’s nonsense. It marks the official beginning of the silly season.”
Sadiq Khan, a transport minister, said Labour was lucky to have Lord Mandelson fighting its corner, but said reports of his imminent return to the Commons appeared to have been written under the influence of “sunstroke”.
“Lord Mandelson is doing a great piece of work, he is doing a great job, he is a heavyweight, he has experience,” Mr Khan told Sky News. “He can do that job from the Lords or the Commons. We are lucky to have him.”
Source:The times
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