Peering through the political chaos and carnage in the UK over the last few days, one issue stood out - the reason why Caroline Flint resigned as a member of the Government.
When James Purnell resigned on Thursday she issued a statement the following day saying she backed Brown. When, during the reshuffle, she didn't get the post she wanted or wasn't promoted to being a full Cabinet Member, she resigned and in her resignation letter said:- "Several of the women attending Cabinet – myself included – have been treated by you as little more than female window dressing."
Two issues stand out.
Firstly, because Ms Flint did not get what she wanted (a promotion) instead of looking at it because Brown did not think she was good enough (though God knows what goes through Brown's mind), she accuses him of sexism, when he clearly is not (except against men). She waves the Ali G "Is it cos I black [insert - women]" excuse as an entitlement card. She just looks stupid and hypocritical as she waves the "I am a woman therefore I must have what I want". She does a good job mind in undermining the anti-male feminists (Fawcett Society, Harman et al) as it exposes their transparent and illogical arguments.
Secondly, looking at the window dressing issue itself. The problem is that when you have gender quota's, all-women shortlists, positive action (no such thing, remember) or anything where women are promoted because they are women and not because of their ability, then it is window dressing.
That's what all-women shortlist operated by Labour are all about, it is not about having the best person for the job.
Brown has to have a certain number of women in his Cabinet/Government, else he gets attacked by anti-male Feminists. Organisiations like The Fawcett Society, the Equalities Commission, The Guardian/BBC and others would hang him or any political leader out to dry.
It is therefore extremely hypocritical of Flint and any other person/organisation who supports all-women shortlists and quota's etc to accuse Brown of window dressing when it is they who created the need to have the window-dressing in the first place.
Not just the Liebour party, happened in the selection for the Welsh Conservative candidates for the European elections too...
Posted by: Political Noob | Saturday, 06 June 2009 at 22:23
Very well put. Ms. Flint's fulsome praise of Gordon the evening before should be played with her interview the following day just to show that total shift.
Very much the result of quotas and positive discrimination. If nothing else it proves how uninterested Ms Flint is in anything other than herself. Made Purnell's knife in the back look almost dignified.
Posted by: Groan | Sunday, 07 June 2009 at 11:47