Harriet Harman Calls for Keir Starmer to Revive First Secretary Role for a Woman
Furious female Labour MPs have urged Keir Starmer to appoint a woman as his de facto deputy to oversee a complete culture change in Downing Street. This demand follows a series of scandals that have exposed what they describe as a No 10 boy's club.
Reviving a Historic Position
Harriet Harman, one of the party's most senior figures, has specifically called for the revival of the role of first secretary of state. This position was previously held by Peter Mandelson under Gordon Brown. Harman insists that the role must be given to a woman to transform the political culture in government around women and girls.
She emphasized that appointing a woman to this senior-most cabinet position, after the prime minister, would be really powerful. Harman told the Guardian, We need a complete culture change, and I think everybody recognises that. But it's easier to say let's change culture than to make it happen. She believes this role would turbocharge the government's pledge to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade.
Fallout from Scandals
The fallout from the Mandelson scandal, worsened by revelations about his former communications chief Matthew Doyle, has sparked significant anger among Labour ranks, particularly among female MPs. Alison McGovern, the local government minister, expressed this sentiment in a blog, writing, Anger and grief in huge measure is what those of us from Labour's progressive wing feel now. It's our culture that doesn't properly hear women which meant Peter Mandelson's power lasted for so long.
Despite this, a growing support network has formed around Starmer since the resignation of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney. McSweeney has been replaced by acting joint chiefs of staff Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson, who were promoted this week. Additionally, Sophie Nazemi has filled the role of director of communications vacated by Tim Allan.
MPs Demand Further Action
At a packed meeting of the parliamentary Labour party on Wednesday, MPs urged Starmer to go further. Natalie Fleet, the Bolsover MP, who became pregnant after being groomed and raped as a teenager, asked the prime minister to launch a national inquiry into the crimes of former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed. She highlighted that victims had written to No 10 but received no reply.
Fleet stated, These are our victims, this is our Epstein, adding that English police officers had taken bribes and doctors had checked that victims were virgins. She said, I know, as a survivor, that nobody cares. Literally, nobody cares. You have to seize the moment right now, people up and down the country saying they care. Okay, great, let's do something about it.
Despite her criticisms, Fleet affirmed her full support for Starmer, noting, I genuinely believe that Starmer is the best we've got when it comes to tackling violence against women and girls. If I could pick a prime minister out of the country, I would pick somebody with a record like his. The fact that he's being derailed to this scale by this drama just feels so ironic, because he genuinely cares. That's why we need him to do more. We need him to deliver. We need deeds, not words.
Looking Ahead
Harman argues that the first secretary role would not only address culture change but also hold every government department accountable for their actions on women's issues. She said it would empower the work on women happening in each department. This call comes as Starmer faces pressure to demonstrate that he is listening to women's concerns within his own party and across the country.
The ongoing discussions highlight the urgent need for structural changes in government to ensure women's voices are heard and acted upon. As Labour navigates these challenges, the appointment of a woman as first secretary of state could mark a significant step towards achieving gender equality in political leadership.
