Times today - Rishi Sunak

[mcduffy]

Couldn't see it posted (and couldn't post from my MN app which has become unusable!), it was quite far down the news section.

Rishi Sunak shares fears that women’s rights are being eroded

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/476d9b18-c660-11ec-81c0-e8eabc9951c2?shareToken=aa1409353693d24d4ca9b68cf245e5c3

Thanks for the share token

Thanks OP.

It is understood that this means he is supportive of female-only spaces in sports, changing rooms, toilets, prisons and hospital wards.

It's good that the Tories are taking this stance but they appear to be saying the right things and then doing nothing. They are in power NOW. They could ensure both prison policy and NHS ward policies are reviewed within the next year. They could lead by example and ensure that the exceptions in the Equality Act are implemented. This would then give the green light to other service users that it is acceptable to use the exceptions where they are necessary. They need to put their money where their mouth is before the next election otherwise it is meaningless.

They are in power. They have been in power for years, and watched as, for example, toilets in their own buildings were switched (at considerable taxpayer expense) to mixed sex. Buildings choc-full of lawyers bamboozled by Stonewall into thinking that was now the law? Or did the same sort of men who enjoy watching porn during their Westminster work time also enjoy the opportunity for the structural workplace bullying of women, which is what the loss of women's single sex safe spaces is.

And I really think we should emphasis that: if watching porn in the workplace or on a train or bus is seen as sexual harassment and bullying, what then is forcing women to go to the toilet in an enclosed, unmonitored space where they are confronted with by male strangers coming out of the cubicles with their cocks out (as happened to an elderly female neighbour in a well known high street chains's toilets only yesterday).

Why don't they just get on and implement stuff? They're in government - can't they just insist no men in women's prison no matter how they 'identify', insist that the press accurately reports the sex of convicted offenders - none of this 'her penis' rubbish.

Or do things have to be introduced through Parliament and they reckon a loss would be damaging at this time? Didn't the Baroness try to get something through the House of Lords but was rejected? I'm afraid I'm woefully ill-educated about how Parliament, government and our democracy works

It's a vote winning carrot.
Yes it's a man problem, but it's policy and woolly legislation that is creating the environment where pervs can get their dicks out in front of old ladies safe in the knowledge it's unlikely anything will be done.

Or do things have to be introduced through Parliament and they reckon a loss would be damaging at this time?

I don't think so. The law already exists that would allow them to have single sex services. They just need to grow a spine and implement the exceptions in the Equality Act.

When did Sunak speak to Mumsnet? Is there a link on here to that?

Call me a cynic but I imagine the tories are hoping to get female votes out of this at the General Election/turn women away from Labour given its current (barking) position. If the Govt sort the problem out before the GE they may not get those votes.

I absolutely agree with all the comments here! If the government genuinely believe this needs addressing, rather than just being a useful opportunity for vote-winning soundbites, they need to actually do stuff.

They could start with actual practical guidance for schools, universities, hospitals, prisons etc. Rather than just leaving individual schools, hospital wards, sporting organisations, etc to sort it out themselves and deal with the fallout.

One thing I can't stand on this issue is the passing the buck from governments and large organisations down to individuals and smaller organisations to deal with.

Sunak is clearly fishing for votes from mumsnet posters. That's why he suddenly mentions women's rights and talks to you apparently telling you that it "would be silly" to help you little ladies with the money problems, just leave it up to the men.

Who does he think he is?They have actually been in power while all this happened and his boss is a sexist pig

We were asked for questions here (I missed this):
www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_live_events/4537153-mnhq-here-got-a-question-for-the-chancellor-rishi-sunak-mp

Video of the interview here:
www.mumsnet.com/articles/mumsnet-founder-justine-roberts-puts-users-questions-to-chancellor-rishi-sunak/

We can just call a spade a spade.

People who evade or avoid paying tax don't care about women and girls. Or anyone but themselves.

peacewomen.org/resource/why-tax-feminist-issue

Hiding money in tax havens to keep it for yourself depletes the resources available to help women and girls (and other vulnerable groups) out of poverty and other dangerous situations.

I literally don't care what else he says. Until he supports closing down all personal and corporate routes to systemic tax "avoidance" (oh but this isn't technically illegal so it's just tax planning teehee), Mr. Sunak is just blowing hot air.

The Tories have twigged that the other parties are tying themselves in knots over this and it's a critical issue for many voters.
Politics is a cynical business. But they obviously now think this is a vote winning position.
I'd tentatively say that's good news if they stay in power.
Not saying I would vote for them as a whole, but I certainly won't vote for a party taking a different view on this.

I'd tentatively say that's good news if they stay in power.

You don't need to win votes once you are in power. You only need them to get you there. So if you know people don't want tax rises, you promise that you won't raise taxes. That wins you an election, and then you are free to raise taxes as much as you want. Although I am sure that's never happened.

When someone here can explain why that won't happen with womens rights without using the phrase "knows what a woman is" (which is starting to be 2022s "but Corbyn") I'll be here to listen.

Of course it's not all broken promises with the Tories - they also have a pretty good sideline in refusing to obey court rulings they don't like.

True. But the alternative is a party who says it's wrong to say 'women have a cervix'.
Rock. Hard place springs to mind!