Harriet Harman has led calls for Keir Starmer to appoint a senior woman as his de facto deputy, urging a “complete culture change” in Downing Street following a series of scandals that have exposed a “boys’ club” atmosphere. The former deputy Labour leader proposed reviving the role of first secretary of state, last held by Peter Mandelson under Gordon Brown, but insisted it must go to a woman to “transform the political culture in government around women and girls”.
The intervention comes after a tumultuous fortnight that has left the prime minister fighting for his political future. This week saw a clear-out of some of Starmer’s closest advisers, including chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, as he sought to regain control. 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 to the Guardian, Harman said the first secretary role would “turbocharge” the government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade. “It would deal with culture change, but it would also hold every government department accountable for what they are doing on women,” she said. The role would be in addition to the post of deputy prime minister held by David Lammy.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told ITV’s Peston that there had been “far too many misogynistic briefings” from the prime minister’s circle. “I’ve been completely straight with him about how unacceptable that is,” she said. “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 anger among female Labour MPs. One described it as “the worst week of her life”, while another said Starmer’s future depended on ending “kowtowing to the vested interests of powerful rich men”. Local government minister Alison McGovern wrote in a blog: “It’s our culture that doesn’t properly hear women which meant Peter Mandelson’s power lasted for so long.”
