Where are all the women in the cabinet?

[fruitstick]

I'll try again with a completed thread title this time!

Given that this was supposed to be the Mumsnet election, is there any hope that there might be one, just one woman in the cabinet?

Although Samantha Cameron looked lovely in her maternity wear and heels, I was hoping for slightly more representation than that.

Despite Labour's faults, at least they had women in important and influential positions, not just window dressing.

Though no-one seemed to regard CP as an election issue and John Hemmings and Lynne F appear to be the only MPs who are passionate about protecting vulnerable children

Thanks Victory.

I am afraid as a die hard leftie I cannot say the same about your name

Glad to see Theresa May there. She's also Minister for Women I think. She has been shadow Minister for Women in the past and I thought seemed like a sort of free market feminist. Feminism being a broad church after all!

Have you all seen this? Theresa May - Minister for Women and Equality consistently votes AGAINST Equal rights for homosexuals.

She's just going to be a wonderful and progressive campaigner for equality, eh?

Looks like Baroness Warsi's getting something too.

Quite happy with the cabinet announcements so far...

I am more interested in what their policies will do for women than I am in whether the people making the policies are women.

They can start by giving men the exact same paternity pay as women get in maternity pay. 6 weeks at 90% for starters.

Oh great blotted..... not a complete surprise though as equality/diversity doesn't seem very to be very important to the tories

Wasn't it down to Labour that women can vote?

I am a staunch supporter women's equality rights, and I am a staunch csupporter of the Conservatives. The two are perfectly compatible.

GetOrf: !

"Personally I'd rather someone was picked for the Cabinet based on their ability, not their sex."

I agree. Which is why it's such a shame that most top jobs are occupied by people who have been picked for their sex. (IE they're male. They get privileges for simply having a penis from the nursery through school, university and the workplace, that women don't get. No one seems to worry that they're keeping more competent people who haven't been given their privileges, out of a job.)

Auntie Maggie I think it was actually a Liberal Conservative Coalition

Lloyd George - 1918.

AMaggie - universal suffrage in 1928, passed by the Conservative govt under Stanley Baldwin.

I didn't say she'd be a staunch supporter of equality. Personally I disagree with many of her policies. My sort of feminism is not hers. However if we have to have a Tory government then I think it should include women too. So I'm pleased to see she is there.

Interesting pre-election Guardian article about exactly this topic:
www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/08/catherine-bennett-women-politics

Great - the only woman in the cabinet is an authoritarian.

Ho hum, Michael Gove has education. Doesn't bode well in light of his rather random pronoucements during the campaign...

Oh I thought people liked Govey now after his webchat on here.

Now I know the mere mention of her name drums up strong feeling but Thatcher anyone?! You can't claim the Tories are biased against women when they have had the only female Prime Minister!
I know this fact sticks in many lefties throats, particularly after Labour tried to leave her off a list of significant women in the 20th Century!

Sorry have a professional bias against someone who will introduce more change in education, just think there's been enough and we need some consolidation before introducing more. (am not a teacher but do work in education) TBH haven't read the webchat yet so will go off and do that now...

Sorry to crash your thread but already the BBC have commented on 'Theresa May's love of shoes' or some such nonsense. Maybe when the media can talk about the new holder of one of the most senior positions in British politics without mentioning her dress sense, we'll have fair representation in Cabinet???

GRRRRRRR!

Thanks OJo

she's already complained about the "shoes" thing

It is a disgrace, 1 woman so far - words truly fail me