New members of the Women's and Equality Committee announced - not much hope there

It would have been the Tory whips though they might have consulted with Tory HQ which would have been under Sunak at time. They may have held back till election was over perhaps who knows ?Hilarious move, and great politics. Rosie is likely to get more coverage for whatever she says than a Tory member.

The other Tory place goes to Shivani Raja MP for Leicester East since 2024. She gained the seat from Claudia Webbe. She was appointed as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Shadow Equalities Office when Kemi Badenoch took over from Rishi Sunak as Leader of the Conservative Party.

Very clever appointment too.

Yes, the tories are making mischief. However, Labour is presenting them with an open goal with their dithering, obfuscating and mixed messages. And Rosie will do an excellent job.

Would that have been Kemi's doing, the Tory Whips, or what?

From Rosie

x.com/RosieDuffield1/status/1861466475875164433?t=Mc96B_2iHs1tx2OMBzB8qA&s=19

It's cynical, but you could argue it's smart politics by the Tories.

So that means the Conservatives approached Rosie (who is sitting now as an independent) and offered her one of their allocated places, then?

Rosie Duffield has taken one of the Conservative spots on this committee. She will be sitting, for the first time, tomorrow.

https://x.com/agneschambre/status/1861455791556805079?s=46&t=ZX_bLozRqm8etdGICMcAvA

No idea, sorry.

This is her biog on Gov.uk

https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mims-davies

And there’s this.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/better-protection-from-invasive-data-requests-for-victims-of-rape

And this

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/better-protection-for-victims-under-pre-charge-bail-reforms

Sensible or captured, do we know?

It is mentioned there.

Mims Davies is listed twice: Wales Office (Shadow Secretary of State) and then again the second time that Dept of Education is mentioned, as the Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities.

Two worthwhile things to tackle, so a promising start.

I half wonder if this isn't a bad move - if it's deliberate - by the Tories. They can't be linked to any of the insane recommendations that emerge from this Committee. Might be better to let all the crazy happen in one place?

It'll be interesting to see how this pans out. Celebrating the early sterilisation of children, insisting that men must be given access to undressed women and demanding that women's sport is dismantled in favour of mediocre male sportsmen's careers is not exactly a vote winner. And there are countless journalists all prepared to expose the lack of thinking, lack of intelligent debate and disordered beliefs that push this nonsense.

It may be a good platform to expose to the public those MPs lacking in intellectual credibility, concern for the welfare of children and concern for women's rights?

I double checked.

There are only 9 members so far which is odd as most committees have 11. However this number is not set in stone you can have committees with less members. So rather than trading out maybe the Tories haven't decided who to elect yet. Which would be odd I think. I thought unless someone resigns there are no new members added later, but I could be wrong.

I still think it is entirely possible the Tory whips preferred to get more members on more "important" committees. I guess will will know very soon as the Tory leadership election is over shortly.

Also I didn't mention this it is important to note committee members have to be backbenchers so they cannot be either Labour ministers or Tory shadow ministers. Even if Jenrick wins he will be offering Kemi a shadow job as the Tories are short of talent. So she will not be going on any committees anyway. I was just suggesting if she was leader she would think this committee would be a priority while other Tories might not.

Also note folks while having MPs on committees is great what is even better is having ministers with actual power like these known supporters of Labour women's declaration who are ministers.

Shabana Mahmood MP, Birmingham Ladywood, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Dame Diana Johnson, MP Hull North & Cottingham, Minister of State (Home Office) - (Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention).
Feryal Clark, MP, Enfield North. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology - AI and Digital Government
Jess Phillips MP for Birmingham Yardley, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office) - (Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls).

Thanks to everyone who explained the context and background (how many committees, who is on them, how they're chosen, etc).

No idea about his race, but he was a local Pride organiser and very very TRA-adjacent/TWAW/shut up and beeee kiiiiind wims.

Sarah Owen is awful. I don't know about the rest of them, though. Am I right in thinking the only Black person is David Burton-Sampson?