Harriet Harman to stand for Speaker

[niceberg]

I've just seen this news. Overall I have a very positive impression of HH as a feminist and her work in ministerial positions. Can anyone with a better memory for detail and knowledge of politics give their view on her? Is she gender critical? I seem to recall her chairing the interesting committee session that included Joanna Cherry who was on fire questioning a Twitter rep (?) about their misogyny.

[MrsBertBibby]

Her views will be irrelevant as the Speaker must remain neutral on all issues.

[youcantspellawesomewithoutme]

All I can think of is her links to PIE.

[Qcng]

It'll be good to see a female speaker.

Her views are supposed to be irrelevant as speaker, but obviously JB's views were not irrelevant when he blocked debating the changes to the GRA. His personal views came across very strongly then.

She's not an ardent feminist but at least she's a woman so should be more sympathetic.

[niceberg]

Her views are supposed to be irrelevant as speaker, but obviously JB's views were not irrelevant when he blocked debating the changes to the GRA. His personal views came across very strongly then.
This. But also I'm just interested in her, hence asking the question.

[niceberg]

The PIE thing I had forgotten about.

[JessicaWakefieldSV]

PIE.

That is all you need to know. Disgraceful

[SirVixofVixHall]

PIE ? Blimey ? What were her links ?

[endofthelinefinally]

I hope some brave journalist brings up her links to PIE. Those people haven't gone away.

[niceberg]

SirVixofVixHall
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/pie-controversy-harriet-harman-has-got-this-one-wrong-9162728.html?amp

[GrumpiestCat]

I've always found it weird that speakers have to be impartial. I mean I understand in terms of the role but if that was my elected MP I'd be instantly disenfranchised wouldn't I? My representative would be essentially neutered. I also understand other parties won't stand against speakers at elections as a courtesy, again how is that democratic? It's all a bit odd. Am I getting it wrong?

[TimeLady]

Too marmite for a Speaker, imo. She has always come across to me as a sanctimonious prig.

[DecomposingComposers]

It'll be good to see a female speaker.


Betty Boothroyd was speaker in the 80s

[MissLadyM]

I can't stand her and, like others, can't get over the PIE thing.

[MorrisZapp]

Betty Boothroyd was speaker from 1992 to 2000.

[sailingclosetothewind]

No, because we need a speaker that is both politically neutral and neutral on brexit, Harriet is neither.

[DecomposingComposers]

Betty Boothroyd was speaker from 1992 to 2000.

Thank you. It seemed longer ago than that.

[TimeLady]

Harman, Cooper, Thornbury, Toynbee and the like are as middle class as they come. I doubt they mix with the 'working class' any more than the Tories do. If they had instigated something like the Women's Equality Party with true feminist principles, I might have more respect for them.

[SirVixofVixHall]

Thanks for the link OP.

[TheClitterati]

Women's Equality Party with true feminist principles
Including the wonderful feminist principle that transwomen ARE women & they must be centred in feminism and WEP policy

[TimeLady]

I actually said " something like the Women's Equality Party with true feminist principles."

I think the current WEP has turned out to be a wasted opportunity.

[TheClitterati]

👍🏼👍🏼 ah I get you!
Indeed.

[Seadragonusgiganticusmaximus]

Do you remember her comments about Fred Goodwin and the “court of public opinion”?

“I don't want to, I don't want to go into all the details of issues that ... the methods that might be taken [to claw back Goodwin's pension]. But I can say this, which is that Sir Fred should not be counting on being £650,000 a year better off as a result of this because it's not going to happen. The prime minister has said it's not acceptable and, therefore, it will not be accepted. And it might be enforceable in a court of law, this contract, but it's not enforceable in the court of public opinion and that's where the government steps in.”

How can someone who has so little respect for the rule of law run our main law-making body?

[Seadragonusgiganticusmaximus]

Even the Guardian couldn’t support her.

www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2009/mar/02/harriet-harman-sir-fred-goodwin

[Childrenofthestones]

From a Daily mail report.....

,Miss Harman had claimed such a law would “increase censorship” and argued that a pornographic picture of a naked child should not be considered indecent unless it could be proven that the subject had suffered.

Christ almighty.😨

[MockersthefeMANist]

Wouldn't be the first to seek the speakership to rehabilitate a reputation. Selwyn Lloyd was implicated in the lies over Suez, and George Thomas was chased out of a meeting following his diversion of funds for the Aberfan disaster.