Andy Burnham told the Women’s Parliamentary Labour Party today that he won’t tolerate ‘sexist briefings’ and will fire anyone caught doing it. Echoes of Starmer – briefing happens…
At a meeting of the group where it was demanded half of all ministers and No10 advisers would be women, as well as the DPM, Burnham attempted to reassure female backbenchers. He also responded to quote – which aggravated Labour – printed by Tim Shipman suggesting Burnham would be the first ‘female’ Labour PM in a similar way to Clinton being the first ‘black’ president:
“Along comes Andy, surrounded by female advisers and backers, but more importantly, genuinely passionate about all those traditionally female-oriented issues, and much less so with the bombs and budgets. So could we finally see what Labour has failed to deliver all these years – a female PM in all but sex?’”
Burnham said:
“I want to make it clear that if anyone in my team was found to have done that they would be out of the door. Their feet wouldn’t touch the floor.
And I want to put on record that I never have and never will describe myself as the first female Labour PM.”
Good to have that on record…
Badenoch said at her speech on Monday morning: “We are absolutely ready to fight a general election. We say the results in Aberdeen South: 50% of the vote. Because we can unite the country… It’s about uniting the country, for God’s sake, behind a centre-right agenda.”