Why the Labour Party will not elect a woman

Much as I'd love a female leader, I'd prefer a competent leader. And one, specifically, who is prepared to stand up for women's rights

I genuinely think the PLP doesn't have a worthwhile candidate who is both competent and capable of building a winning coalition of voters. I don't think it understands the various directions of political travel - materialist feminism, post-liberalism, town vs country, etc at all. That is the sad state of today's Labour party.

Why people hate Thatcher for the mines:

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_miners%27_strike_(1984–85)

Horrible, horrible time. My FIL still talks with disbelief about the time the police rushed the picketing miners and the miners defended themselves, but the BBC put out edited footage on the news to make it look like the miners attacked the police.

Labour speaks about people like me as if we are some kind of pathetic charity case. They want us to sit down and shut up.

Yes. They can't move past we identify as your representation. Until they understand that they are the representation of, not for, the working class, they will not win back their lost voters. The patronising paternalism has been noticed - and rejected - by vast swathes of the electorate, including many women.

If you can't see sex, you can't see sexism.

THIS.

Its not a case of being anti-trans, for goodness sake. You are arguing you want a woman leader

The TWAW comment was shoehorned in for no good reason other than making a dig.

I am not arguing for a woman leader and even if I were my objection to those comments would still stand.

No, but if there were, they would be counted as a female mp. Even if they'd been born and lived as male until the age of 53 and only transitioned (with no hormones or surgery) a couple of years ago.

If you can't see sex, you can't see sexism.

Fucking hell. There are no trans women Labour MPs, it’s not a relevant argument.

How do you know?

I agree that leaders should be selected on merit but that Labour are in a position where they appear not to have female candidates of the right calibre is on them too, why are there no strong female candidates around in positions of influence? When in government their history of female cabinet ministers is appalling
Barbara Castle was the last Labour gov minister to do anything for working class women.

Much as I'd love a female leader, I'd prefer a competent leader. And one, specifically, who is prepared to stand up for women's rights.

All the women who have thrown their hat into the ring so far have parroted the TWAW line. They're useless. Jess Phillip has shown a willingness to listen to gc women, but she was the driving force behind the equalities committee report that advocated reform of the GRA, so she really can't be trusted.

Ironically, Keir Starmer is the only candidate who appears to understand that women have legitimate concerns about allowing men-who-identify-as-women into female spaces. He's also from a working-class background (father was a toolmaker, mother was a nurse) and extremely bright.

In terms of female political leadership, I'll pin my hopes on Elizabeth Warren at this moment in time.

She doesn't have a hope in hell. I read a comment the other day- 'She lost the presidency the second she put her pronouns in her twitter bio'.

Fucking hell. There are no trans women Labour MPs, it’s not a relevant argument.

The reason labour still talk about the mines and are heavily trade orientated is because they are held up and supported by the unions. It's not about being anti-female as if female orientated work places were to provide the funding you can bet that's who'd be represented.

There are many misogynistic and mysandristic people in the party though, and I hope to see the Tory's stay in power for the foreseeable future.

“
I am sick of people blaming Thatcher for closing mines. The previous Labour government actually closed MORE mines than she did!
“

No, she’s blamed for demonising the mining communities - the “enemy within” - in revenge for their part in bringing down the Heath goverment in the 70s.

Its not a case of being anti-trans, for goodness sake. You are arguing you want a woman leader. The trans-rights movement thinks it's transphobic to draw any distinction between a woman born with a vagina and a woman born with a penis. So you cannot, by this logic, ask for a woman leader without accepting that a man who now identifies as a woman counts as one.

That's what feminists are objecting too. That the definition of woman now includes man.

That’s a load of misogynist shit about all the women being thick that you seem to have absorbed there @Namechangednorth. Much of the reason we’ll struggle to get a woman leader. Are you both a woman and a member of the Labour Party?

chocolate I hope that you are right but she has spoken in the past of suporting tw in women's shelters so I am not too sure.

Angela Raynor would be a fucking disaster. She is not clever enough and is woke. Just no.

Angela Rayner would beat Keir Starmer. If RLB has any sense she’ll stand aside for Rayner and we’ll get a woman leader.

Yes would be nice to see a female leader but the reality is that there is not one I would vote for that appears in the running. Yvette Cooper could have done it but that boat has sailed.

Angela Raynor...well nice person but not the sharpest knife in the block and unfortunately not up to it

Rebecca Long Bailey or "Wrong Dailey" as she has been coined. I really don't think she has the intellect either. When interviewed she doesn't appear able to do anything other than reiterate the agreed line. She would get mashed if she actually tried to engage and stop reiterating the same point whether or not it was the question.

At least Dianne Abbott isn't standing. 😆

The reality is that the only possible one in the current running, that has the intelligence and any sort of appeal to the middle ground is Starmer. But as has been pointed out he did burn his bridges with some over Brexit.

I'm frankly staggered he is the front runner given how extreme Labour Party members are currently. Maybe after 4 GE losses the reality is sinking home?

It's a real shame that the quality of a lot of the women in the Labour shadow cabinet is so utterly mediocre

Sorry - bold fail

I think that she is great too but still parrots that TWAW and will bow to the wokerati

I've seen evidence to the contrary. Wokerati can't stand her because she endorsed single sex provision. I have some Momentum folk on my Facebook and they were frothing at the mouth about her for that reason. That and the fact that she was openly criticising Corbyn. They love RLB because she's the anointed Corbynite successor.

CK

It is. Politics is a dirty game and you need to kick your way to the top.

I think that she is great too but still parrots that TWAW and will bow to the wokerati*
I've seen evidence to the contrary. Wokerati can't stand her because she endorsed single sex provision. I have some Momentum folk on my Facebook and they were frothing at the mouth about her for that reason. That and the fact that she was openly criticising Corbyn. They love RLB because she's the anointed Corbynite successor.

Mockers it is also a very sexist assumption no?

That sounds promising Wine - we just need some sense and sunlight from a leader that is not JC.

I agree with Margaret Macmillan: The notion that a female leader would be kinder, gentler, and better for women generally is not borne out by the facts: Thatcher, Evita, Golda Meir, Mrs Gandhi, Tulip Siddiq's Auntie, etc.