WEP statement from Sophie Walker

You know, another poster on another thread pointed out that there is a crisis in our political system st the moment- and one factor in the crisis is that only a fraction of the electorate are actually members of and involved in our political parties. It has led to over-representation of extremist positions and entry isn.

Very true snd conclusion i reached fairly recently. I’ve never joined a party, never even considered it till now. It was joining twitter that made me realise that many who actively get involved in politics are the kind of folk who scare me silly. Watching how student unions/politics works (again twitter has been enlightening - and mn) - a small group (often seemingly militant) running the show, making rules/decisions cos the majority can’t be arsed with it all. And somebof these are the folk who go on into general politics - it’s kind of made me more scared about what calibre of folk are running the show. I always naively assumed that to run, get elected - be given any kind of power - you would have to have something about you, be intelligent - now I’m just scared that we are being guided and run by the folk least suited to the job.

I don't really see how a full consultation with members after their conference can take place in time to respond to the GRA consultation.

Karen Ingala Smith joined WEP recently, didn't she? If SW was smart, she'd have picked up the phone to Karen immediately for help on this issue and maybe that's what happened.

It is (tragically) the best statement on sex-based rights from any political party. But (a) I can't see GC WEP members feeling properly comfortable standing up to speak in this debate for all the reasons we know in which case (b) I suspect TRAs may still win the day because nothing other than total compliance will do for them.

Sophie may have woken up too late. I agree with a poster further up that she may be gone within the year, possibly replaced by a TW.

(I do also agree with another previous poster who laments the situation whereby so few people are members of political parties. I read recently elsewhere that the Tories are ripe for entryism. Current membership very small, most of them very elderly etc.)

Why has nobody pointed out the obvious to her?

That any Woman who has the guts to stand up at conference and say what needs to be said, will be hounded by the witch finders, have their employers involved and all the rest of the vile behaviour that goes with speaking ‘out of line’ i.e. gender heresy.

I’m reminded of this west wing quote:

I never understood why you gun control people don’t all join the NRA. They’ve got two million members, you bring three million to the next meeting, call a vote. ‘All those in favor of tossing guns?’ Bam. Move on.

I think I will join.

Some day we will find out who's pulling the strings, but I'm worried that by then it will be much too late.

Ek - it's one of their core policies. That men should be allowed overnight on all post natal wards. So fucking middle class it makes me want to vomit

I feel I'm giving in to a cheating ex who turns up with a bunch of flowers nicked from a petrol station and says, 'let's talk'. But anyway I'm going to listen. This is how desperate I am right now.

The part about members being afraid to talk openly - in a women's party - is so chilling. That and James Kirkup saying cabinet ministers - not just MPs, fucking Cabinet Ministers - are afraid to speak up. What sort of country is this?

Its the best statement I've seen on this yet though.

Having, what was the issue with men on may wards?

Congratulations btw! My 15 wk old has just puked on me and is now finally asleep on my shoulder.

I'm wondering whether to join. That's a good point re no one joins parties any more. However I'm wondering if it's better locally to join the Lib Dems. I scrutinised our local MPs twitter and I think he could be gc if pushed.

So little... so late. WEP should have doing the work that WPUK is doing and lobbying hard on this issue to make sure women's voices are heard.

You know, another poster on another thread pointed out that there is a crisis in our political system st the moment- and one factor in the crisis is that only a fraction of the electorate are actually members of and involved in our political parties. It has led to over-representation of extremist positions and entry isn.

So I would say, try it. Try joining, try pushing for the direction that needs taking. Try.

I might even join

But it does underline why we needed a really woman-centred Party so much in the first place. ☹️

You've made me feel bad, now.

Karen Ingala-Smith on Twitter is making the point that this is further than any other UK Party is prepared to go.

Sad Times.

I think she’s made a huge statement there, she knows exactly how it will be read and received and the abuse she will get

Oh yes, the webchat with Sophie was super.
She said we were 'vicious'

That thread

What with the trans stuff and the men on mat wards I am aghast. The latter issue being why I’ve spent 30+ weeks fighting to have a home birth.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_live_events/2617026-Webchat-with-Sophie-Walker-leader-of-the-Womens-Equality-Party-and-London-Mayor-candidate-Tuesday-19-April-at-noon

Oh yes, the webchat with Sophie was super.
She said we were 'vicious'

Do I remember Sophie coming into FWR previously or have I imagined that?
I’d love to hear from her about what has caused this..:y’know apart from money.

Outside of POTUS, there is not nearly as much acclaim, money, and power in actually being a significant office holder/leader/leading member of a political party as there is to be gained on the national/international speaking circuit.

Whatever the outcome, Sophie Walker's probable future speaking/consultation engagements will plausibly bring her everything she wants - irrespective of what her efforts have actually achieved for women beyond her privileged circle.

Yes to little too late. I too feel so angry that they were able to steal this name from women everywhere and then do this.

It must break some kind of false advertising or campaigning law if the name of your party gives a false and misleading impression of what you actually do? Or is that just too sensible to have been written down.

yeah. she's come across as a bit of a wet lettuce all along

so fucking concilatory

Right. So now the house of cards is crumbling, Sophie suddenly gets some ovaries?

Nope. She can fuck right off.