Amber Rudd says 'sexist' Brexiteers are backing Boris Johnson's deal 'because he's a man'

[DoctorAllcome]

This is an article on Yahoo News today.
It’s a given we have sexism here in the US (no female president yet), but I thought sexism might be less prevalent in U.K. because you’ve had female PMs and Queens. What do you UK moms think about Amber Rudd’s statement?

uk.news.yahoo.com/amber-rudd-sexist-brexiteers-boris-deal-130112906.html

Here’s a bit of the text:
“Amber Rudd has accused Brexiteers of sexism over their support for Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal.

The former Work and Pensions Secretary, who resigned from the cabinet last month in protest at the Prime Minister’s approach to Brexit, claimed there was a “whiff of sexism” about the way Brexiteers were supporting his deal despite its similarities to Theresa May’s proposals.

BBC Radio 5 Live host Emma Barnett asked why members of the European Research Group of MPs would accept the deal from him and not Mrs May, and suggested it was because “she is a woman and he is a man”.

“It’s difficult not to share that view,” Ms Rudd responded.”

It's all about the DUP. TM didn't have them on board. She could have involved them much earlier in negotiations (indeed she could have involved cross party committee), but she chose not to. If Arlene had signed off on TM's deal, we'd have left in March. Yes, OP, I agree, this is largely TM's deal, with smoke and mirrors for the DUP to get lost in.

Honestly although I think sexism is an issue, I think it's only a small part.

The deadline and the walls of reality closing in on Johnson are more of an issue.

Johnson never understood what problems May had. He never could be arses to do his homework. He's subsequently been forced to once he became PM.

Meanwhile the ERG had this idea that May was a Remainer and she was trying to dupe them, rather than her presenting the reality of the problem (they too couldn't be arsed to do homework).

Finally May's deal, was more about getting a deal where the UK was treated the same as NI to please the DUP.

Johnson has been more willing to push back against the DUP on that, and his version of things looks likely to have differences for NI and the rest of the UK.

This would satisfy the English hardliners more as it has the potential to be a bonfire of regulations and tighter immigration.

So Johnson's proposals are different to May's.

I think characterising it as purely sexist isn't true.

I do think Johnson's proposals have a more detremential effect on women and in this sense it is more sexist... But that's not the point Rudd was making.

The ERG isn't just men.

Dementia" tax was a rare example of the conservative party trying to help the poorest in society. If i need care my house will eventually pay for it. Leaving my DS with SN completely homeless. £100,000 buffer would leave at least enough for somewhere for him to live.
Agree. I didn't see what was wrong with that. Very odd that Labour ended up fighting for inherited wealth!

Sexim claim is utter rubbish.

Johnson's remit was to get rid of the backstop, which he appears to be on track to do. That is not all that stinks about May's deal but it is unrealistic to think the whole lot can be scrapped.

May did an awful job, as she did as home sec. - reportedly some of her failure as home sec was due to bullying by Cameron, Osborne and Gove. Which just goes to show, while not excusing this she lacked the aggression, vigour and forcefulness to withstand and combat this just as to be effective in negotiations with the EU.

She had no charisma, as others have commented and seemed to think that if she behaved reasonably so would the EU. This does not happen in negotiations.

This process needed metaphorical testosterone, whether in the person of a forceful man or a reincarnation of Margaret Thatcher, who, as you will remember, gave the EU a royal bollocking and acheived her objectives.

And I do not care if you think that is sexist.

Johnson's remit was to get rid of the backstop, which he appears to be on track to do

All this testosterone you mention is what's made him make massive concessions, is it? How has he been vigorous and forceful? It's exactly the opposite and it's not the victory you are trying to make it sound like above.

I don't think so. More about the personalities I'd say. Boris is more inspiring as a leader. He oozes confidence and enthusiasm. May appeared afraid of her own shadow.

Plus the deal isn't the same.

Add another female into the mix and the boys get all defensive and competitive. Sadly, this meant TM was always going to fail.

Oh, right.

What was the reason for Mrs Thatcher’s three terms in office then?

I hope she's laughing like a drain on her country walks or whatever shes doing now, knowing that the ERG posterboy couldnt thrash out a better deal than she did.

There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding of the current proposals here. From an ERG point of view Johnson's plan is very much better than May's. It's a very hard brexit.

If you're determined to find sexism I'd wait and see what the DUP do. This is a very much worse deal for unionists. If Arlene and her band of bigots vote for it when they turned their noses up at Johnson's deal then you might claim that they're motivated by sexism.

Although the Guardian is hardly going to hold the front page for that revelation when the party says of its own leader: "Her most important job is wife, mother and daughter"!

This process needed metaphorical testosterone, whether in the person of a forceful man or a reincarnation of Margaret Thatcher

That's internalised mysogony right there.

I'm inclined to agree that sexism is absolutely at the heart of this.

However, another key difference is that having lost his majority, Johnson is not in hock to the DUP to the same extent that May was. I also believe that the lack of a majority has focused the minds of those who would do anything to stop Corbyn.

I guess TM's deal didn't include this? www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/16/abortion-rights-used-to-get-dup-to-back-brexit-deal-says-stella-creasy

The Govt has always felt that Stormont should decide these issues, but it is not sitting. If power sharing may be restored V soon then these decisions should clearly return. Doubt if it has anything to do with the Brexit agreement - Creasy is just making political capital.

Of course sexism is playing a part here. Sexism permeates every single aspect of society, and it is a factor in most interactions.

Even if it's not the sole issue, it will have been a factor, likely often a significant factor, in each little step that led us here.

Sexism nothing to do with it.
For a start, the deal is different.
And it hasn't passed yet.