MNHQ here: webchat with MPs Jess Phillips and Flick Drummond

[BojanaMumsnet]

Hello,

We’re pleased to announce a webchat with Jess Phillips MP and Flick Drummond MP, co-chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Women and Work, on Monday 23 January at 2pm.

Monday sees the release of the APPG’s first annual report, which explores the broad theme of ‘women returners.’ It has considered ‘a range of diverse issues which impact on the ability of women to return to the workplace, particularly after taking maternity leave or fulfilling caring responsibilities.’

Jess Phillips is the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley. Before this, Jess spent five years working for Women’s Aid, and served on Birmingham City Council, where she was appointed Birmingham’s first ever Victims’ Champion. Since being elected to Parliament in 2015, Jess has served on the Women and Equalities Select Committee and the Backbench Business Committee. Last year she authored a guest post on Mumsnet in support of the Reclaim the Internet campaign.

Flick Drummond is the Conservative MP for Portsmouth South. Prior to her election in 2015, she worked as an insurance broker, Ofsted lay school inspector and was a member of the TA Intelligence Corps. Flick now sits on the Women and Equalities Select Committee, where her work has included contributing to the Gender Pay Gap inquiry, in which she called for more flexible working conditions to be offered at the start of employment. Flick cites her own experience of re-entering the jobs market after raising her children as important in giving her a first-hand account of the unique difficulties that women face in the workplace.

So if you'd like to talk to Jess and Flick about women and employment, returning to work, their experience of being women MPs (or just plain MPs), sounding off on Twitter or anything else that takes your fancy, do please join us on Monday. As always, please do keep in mind our webchat guidelines - one question each (follow-ups if there’s time) and please be polite!

Thanks
MNHQ

Must take a while to read through & then ignore most of the posts listed.

Can I flag up Fishinawetsuit's post from yesterday @ 10:56 for an answer?

@snowysnowstorms

Hi Jess, hi Flick,

What do you think is the single most effective measure we can take to help women returning to work? (The ideal and the most realistic one, if they don't overlap!)

The most effective measure would be that companies realise that gaps in your CV do not mean that you're less capable to do the job, but they may have to give you extra training to get you back into the workplace. The other big issue is the lack of confidence that we feel when we are applying. There are some great companies that are helping women return to work.

Why should women be looked at on a case-by-case basis whether we deserve rights?

We are not the exception. We are 52% of the population. Sex is already in the equalities act. Let those males claiming womanhood be dealt with on a case by case basis.

@PigletWasPoohsFriend

My question is as someone who has multiple disabilities, although I am in no position to work at the moment, I do hope that I may be able to do so in the future.

Do you think there is enough provision out there to help people like me

No is the answer. There is an issue of double jeopardy for disabled women that we talk about in our reports. I hope you will be able to in the future. We need to create work that is flexible and understanding in order that any employer not only does the right thing but also gets the benefit of a workforce they are currently missing out on.

Anybody getting Jeremy Corbin deja vu?

@Mysillydog

Jess and Flick Will you be attending the Parliamentary debate on 27th January around #KeepKadcyla which Siobhain McDonagh MP has secured? Breast cancer is a mainly a women's issue and many of the women with Her2+ metastatic cancer are younger patients with families who would dearly like some more time.

Yes, I will be, and was one of the backers of the debate. Jess was one of the members of the committee that pushed to have the debate.

This is astonishing. There are a group of women here - the women you came to speak to - trying to get your attention about issues they're extremely worried about and you're simply ignoring us?

Beyond.

Yes. #sigh #ironically

I have always thought a case by case basis was a good idea but it is precisely what the proposed gender legislation won't allow. Self identification is the exact opposite and leaves no scope for discretion.

@HamletsSister

After the amazing women's marches on 21st January what next to ensure that women's rights are protected? What do you see as the challenges faced by women, particularly in America, given Trump's presidency?

I would have loved to have marched on the 21st, but I was doing a speech on modern slavery. I think it is early days for Donald Trump, but I know that Jess and I will be watching closely

Why did you use Mermaids to assist you with your work?

The CEO took her son to be chemically castrated in Thailand at age sixteen. They also falsify statistics to coerce parents into accepting Tom is really Tina from as young as 3.

The issue for me is that they have used the word "women" in every reply, yet refuse to define what women actually means.

Male violence against women and girls is epudemic, and you think it's OK to grant us the right to safe spaces on a case by case basis to save male feelings??

Why not campaign for trans prisons, sports, refuges? Why take such a sickeningly anti-woman stance on this issue?

@PollyHampton

Flick. Will you be speaking to Mrs May before she meets with President Trump and ensure she stands up for women's rights?

I don't think I'll be speaking to Mrs May before she goes to meet President Trump - but she has been a great champion for women's rights, and I know that she will not hold back.

@TheXxxxx

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with us.

There are several barriers to women returning to work including poor healthcare provision for women with birth injuries, long waiting list for obstetric gynaecology and proctology appointments can exacerbate injuries and can have lasting effects on women's well being and confidence.

How will the committee improve access and quality of health care for women with birth injuries?

You're welcome, it's my pleasure.

As a woman who has had all sorts of gynaecological problems, I feel sometimes like there's no one who hasn't had a look at my bits. I understand how such problems can affect your work and appointments are hard to come by and are often at inconvenient times. I know that Paula Sherriff and the Women and Health APPG are currently looking into an enquiry on gynaecological care and I will work with them to push any recommendations.

Yup. Jeremy must've given out classes.

Jess/Flick - you both clearly are happy to ignore the biggest concern women posting on this thread have - the impact transactivism is having on women's rights & legal protections. Can you recommend any MPs who are willing to engage with women over these issues, seeing as neither of you appear to have the will to do so?

Helllooo! Can anyone hear me?

Well, this should be interesting. I think they've managed to answer every non trans question and there's still 40 minutes to go. Looking forward to half an hour+ of tap dancing.

Ooh MNHQ get Caroline Flint in for a web chat

I wish Caroline Flint had come on instead.

@user1479748652

I know lots of MN users talk about resentment from fellow employees who see parents getting offered more flexibility. Is there an answer to this? Lots of people feel guilty about leaving work early to go to parents' evening if it means colleagues have to pick up the slack.

That is such a shame, as their children will be paying for their pensions and healthcare later on. There has to be more tolerance in the workplace, plus the fact I bet some of those parents will be working late in the evening to catch up.

X posted!

I think it's terribly transphobic of Jess not to point out that MEN can suffer birth injuries too. And it's triggering to talk about birth injuries and gynae issues because some women have penises.

If a company introduces company quotas to employ women do you see an issue when a trans woman takes the place of a woman?

@HamletsSister

After the amazing women's marches on 21st January what next to ensure that women's rights are protected? What do you see as the challenges faced by women, particularly in America, given Trump's presidency?

The marches showed women all over the world that they are not alone, even when it feels like they are. The Trump presidency doesn't present well when it comes to women's rights much like many other administrations around the world. We must keep on speaking up, tackling the everyday sexism, sexism in our workplaces, sexism in government. The women's march for many will have been the first time that they struck out and tried to get their voices heard. Let's let it be the beginning, not the end of the conversation.

my god they're slow