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.

noeyedear and bedhed - I am totally with you.

snowlady I don't know what you mean about 'blair's babe types'. What type is that then? That was a media label. I am sure most of them were really hacked off by it. It was one of the great things about the first Blair term that there were so many new women MPs.

I do remember Clare Short refusing to do that terrible photocall though - she has her faults, but I admired her for that.

twinterror it's been confirmed I think that tax credits will be cut.

No surprise - so many cuts needed

Not only one, four.

Twinterror - cuts have to happen, because there is no money. Labour have spent it all. What is cut and when remains to be seen, but Child Trust Funds, and CTCs for those earning over £40k will be some of the first things to go.

i dont think number of women is relevant.dont get this tokenistic here's the burds approach to politics.i would rather see appropriate candidates rather than a tick list approach
woman - check
ethnic- check
working class - check

Absolutely dittany.

Ali you are right - there are four. We should think ourselves lucky

Agree scottishmummy

BUT

if there was a fair representation of women in parliament in the first place, they would eventually filter through into the top jobs

I want parliament and government to mirror society

Doggies it is a higher proportion in the Cabinet than there are female MPs across the Coalition. It will have to do for a start.

scottishmummy - I agree with you. I don't believe in positive discrimination.

doggies - women in Parliament is another issue entirely and one that needs addressing. I have no suggestions though, although I don't think that women only shortlists are helpful at all - because the calibre of those candidates will always be called into question.

I know Ali.

But see my post to scottishmummy - basically there are not enough women MPs, that's the issue for me.

I think positive discrimination when used to create all-women short lists for parliamentary candidates is a good thing. The discrepancy is so huge.

what does fair representation mean to you?quota,purposefully putting women in?manipulating posts to include women.problem with so called fair representation is it involves selection and appointment by gender.leaving all women open to inference they didnt get post on ability they got it on quota.there is no such thing as positive discrimination.

oh x-posts

I don't think that's necessarily true. They still have to be selected and then voted in.

It's not about tokenism. And it's not doing a dis-service to men. It's about equality.

In 2010 America has Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi.

In 2010 Britain has Theresa May. The most bland, inoffensive and boring politician on the planet.

Dear God. What on earth has happened to our tradition of strong, opinionated female political leaders?

Much as it pains me to say it, Hattie is the only one in the senior ranks of any of the parties with any gumption. Wouldn't vote for her in a million years though...

All we are left with is high hopes and expectations of some of the newbies.

hate this notion i am supposed to have an affinity because someone a woman. i dont care about cabinet gender,i dont think woman is necessarily better candidate or necessarily adds anything

i vote,am aligned by ideology not gender.abhorr this notion of wimmins issues,it marginalises us even more.

why the hell would a women necessarily be better or more in tune?

there lies stereotype cliché central.the assumption women are empathic,bring balance or are required to moderate men

in 2010 Britain has Theresa May, Baroness Warsi, Caroline Spelman and Cheryl Gillan

and what has happened with women in politics??

thankfully increased in recent years

2010 there have been 141 elected, including the first muslim women to sit in Westminster and the first black woman to win as a Tory

For all of the milk snatchers years in office she had just one female Cabinet member

Perhaps we should perhaps look to some of the improvements for women in politics rather than focussing on the negatives and the "what ifs" ???

The only one of those 4 remotely comparable in power terms to Nancy Pelosi or Hillary Clinton is Theresa May, as Home Secretary.

Having said that, I really like Baroness Warsi. I think David Cameron made a big mistake giving her a peerage because she would have been much better in the House of Commons.

I like Cheryl Gillan too, though Caroline Spelman seems pretty underwhelming.

ok then - who would you have suggested from the newly elected female Lib/Con women to go into cabinet - and why?

of course lets not forget that Hilary has been in politics for years......most of our women that had been in for years are either in the opposition, or have now retired from politics. - I bet when Hillary first started out in the political world she was probably viewed as being "pretty underwhelming"

although I have to admit for people that want to champion womens progression to be putting down those that have made it as far as being elected as being "underwhelming" doesn't really strike me as being supportive

Actually MT was not the milk stealer. I had thought the same thing myself till I heard that actually SHE was the only member of the cabinet to vote against the cut. As she was Education minister at the time she was blamed by the media.

i support championing able candidates.i abhor gender preference politics.the inference that as a woman a woman must be good for me/better/more in tune

how ridiculous

I don't think anyone who is newly elected should go straight into Cabinet unless they have had real executive responsibility before.

I think Justine Greening (first elected in 2005) has a very promising career ahead of her. I don't know the new lot well but I have heard good things about Priti Patel, Harriet Baldwin and Margot James.

Lynne Featherstone is the best female Liberal Democrat MP I think. I can't stand Sarah Teather. Again, have no idea of the new lot.

Sorry, I just don't buy into the idea that I should be impressed by someone just because they are female, or support them because of it if I don't believe they are up to the job.

The should never be any stigma in disparaging the politicians you don't like, whether they are male or female, black or white, left or right.

I'm not sure that Hilary Clinton is a great example tbh. Yes she is a force to be reckoned with now, but the reason she is where she is, is her husband.

Toccata that's a really good point. We expect women in public life to be super-women. There is nothing wrong with being 'just' clever, competant, hardworking. It is not necessary to set the world on fire.
So good on Caroline Spelman, for getting to the top without the help of any dazzle.

scottishmummy, nobody is suggesting that you would have more affinity with a woman because she is a woman

It's about equality

(fuck, I have no affinity whatsoever with Theresa May, that's for sure)