An old saying is that the reason you shouldn't make jokes about politicians is because too many get elected.
A case in point can be made about Welsh MP Julie Morgan (link) who has called (link and link) for a bank holiday to celebrate International Women's Day (8th March). She believes the Government should acknowledge the work and contribution of women.
The contention of course is not so much that there shouldn't be a bank holiday to celebrate the contribution of women, but that there is no mention of a reciprocal arrangement to acknowledge the work and contribution of men.
No male (or female) politician though would dare challenge her and make such an announcement partly because they would be scared of the 'backlash' and be treated with disdain but also because men don't feel that they need any extra praise for the work and contribution they make. They just make the contribution because innately that is what men do.
If the suggestion by Julie Morgan MP gains momentum, which it could because her husband is Rhodri Morgan (The Welsh First Minister in their Assembly) then Welsh men and politicians need to make that challenge.
This would presumably be the very Julie Morgan elected as a result of all women shortlist in 1997?
Such shortlists were of course totally illegal at the time due to the fact that they breached the sex discrimination act.
Posted by: John Kimble | Monday, 23 March 2009 at 02:00