Female Labour MPs have urged Sir Keir Starmer to appoint a senior woman as his de facto deputy to oversee a 'complete culture change' in Downing Street, following a series of scandals that they say have exposed a 'boys' club' atmosphere. Harriet Harman, one of the party's most senior figures, called on the prime minister to revive the role of first secretary of state, insisting it must be held by a woman to 'transform the political culture in government around women and girls'.
The intervention comes after a tumultuous fortnight that has left Starmer fighting for his political future. This week saw a clear-out of some of his closest advisers, including chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, as he sought to regain his grip on the party. Starmer was forced on the defensive on Wednesday after it emerged that his former communications chief, Matthew Doyle, had campaigned for a friend charged with possessing indecent images of children before being nominated for a peerage.
Speaking after an uncharacteristically pugnacious performance at prime minister's questions, Starmer faced a packed meeting of female Labour MPs. He apologised again for appointing Peter Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US, promising action to 'eradicate structural misogyny'. Harman told Starmer that decisive action was needed, and that appointing a woman as first secretary of state would 'turbocharge' the government's pledge to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said there had been 'far too many misogynistic briefings' by the prime minister's circle. 'I've been completely straight with him about how unacceptable that is,' she told ITV1's Peston. 'We need to see far less of these misogynistic briefings. We need far more women around every table where decisions are being made.'
The fallout from the Mandelson scandal, worsened by revelations about Doyle, has sparked real anger among female MPs, with one describing it as 'the worst week of her life'. Another Labour MP said Starmer's meeting with women from the Parliamentary Labour Party was 'the least he could fucking do', and that his future depended on moving the dial on violence against women and girls and 'ending the kowtowing to the vested interests of powerful rich men'.
