Harman Leads Calls for Starmer to Appoint Woman as First Secretary of State
Furious female Labour MPs have demanded that Keir Starmer appoint a woman as his de facto deputy to oversee a "complete culture change" in Downing Street. This follows a series of scandals that have exposed what they describe as a No 10 "boy's club".
Reviving a Historic Role
Harriet Harman, one of the party's most senior figures, has urged Starmer to revive the role of first secretary of state. This position was previously held by Peter Mandelson under Gordon Brown. However, Harman insists the role must be given to a woman to "transform the political culture in government around women and girls".
"We need a complete culture change, and I think everybody recognises that," Harman told the Guardian. "But it's easier to say let's change culture than to make it happen." She argued that appointing a woman to this senior cabinet role would "turbocharge" the government's pledge to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade.
Fallout from Recent Scandals
The fallout from the Mandelson scandal, worsened by revelations about his former communications chief Matthew Doyle, has sparked significant anger within Labour ranks. Doyle campaigned for a friend who had been charged with possessing indecent images of children.
Alison McGovern, the local government minister, expressed the sentiment of many female MPs: "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."
Starmer's Response and Internal Changes
Starmer faced a packed meeting of the parliamentary Labour party on Wednesday after a difficult prime minister's questions session. Since the resignation of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, a growing "Amazonian guard" has formed around Starmer.
Key appointments include:
- Vidhya Alakeson and Jill Cuthbertson promoted to joint chiefs of staff.
- Sophie Nazemi appointed as acting director of communications.
- Amy Richards, No 10's political director, strengthening her role in improving Starmer's party relations.
Broader Calls for Action
At the PLP meeting, MPs urged Starmer to take further action. Natalie Fleet, the Bolsover MP who became pregnant after being groomed and raped as a teenager, called for a national inquiry into the crimes of former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed.
"These are our victims, this is our Epstein," Fleet said, alleging that English police officers took bribes and doctors checked victims' virginity. She asked Starmer to meet with her and the victims, emphasizing: "I know, as a survivor, that nobody cares. Literally, nobody cares. You have to seize the moment right now."
Support with Conditions
Despite her criticisms, Fleet expressed continued support for Starmer, stating: "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."
However, she stressed the need for tangible results: "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."
Harman concluded that the first secretary role would not only address culture change but also hold every government department accountable for their actions regarding women, empowering ongoing work across departments.
