New members of the Women's and Equality Committee announced - not much hope there

[IwantToRetire]

Sarah Owen MP
Labour Luton North Chair

Alex Brewer MP
Liberal Democrat North East Hampshire

David Burton-Sampson MP
Labour Southend West and Leigh

Kirith Entwistle MP
Labour Bolton North East

Natalie Fleet MP
Labour Bolsover

Catherine Fookes MP
Labour Monmouthshire

Christine Jardine MP
Liberal Democrat Edinburgh West

Samantha Niblett MP
Labour South Derbyshire

Rachel Taylor MP
Labour

https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/328/women-and-equalities-committee/membership/

(No Tories - is Kemi Badenoch waiting to see if she because Tory Party leader, and if not take up a place?)

Sensible or captured, do we know?

No idea, sorry.

This is her biog on Gov.uk

https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mims-davies

And there’s this.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/better-protection-from-invasive-data-requests-for-victims-of-rape

And this

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/better-protection-for-victims-under-pre-charge-bail-reforms

Thanks. I suspect I just saw the first listing and didn't think she would appear twice.

As it happens, it turns out she has had this post since July when KB started her campaign to become Tory leader.

She seems to be keeping a low profile.

But if the papers are to believed KB is making terrible blunders at PMQs.

Pink News seem to think she is an ally https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/07/09/mims-davies-lgbtq-shadow-women-and-equalities/

Her comments on single sex provision by the NHS
https://www.mimsdavies.org.uk/news/health-and-equality-acts-amendment-bill

Which has links to another article about her contribution today in the debate on Equalities in the HoC today.

Rosie Duffield has taken one of the Conservative spots on this committee. She will be sitting, for the first time, tomorrow.

https://x.com/agneschambre/status/1861455791556805079?s=46&t=ZX_bLozRqm8etdGICMcAvA

So that means the Conservatives approached Rosie (who is sitting now as an independent) and offered her one of their allocated places, then?

Well I'm glad Rosie Duffield has got a seat, but am still disappointed that the Tories dont seem to want to be on the front line of women and equality.

It's cynical, but you could argue it's smart politics by the Tories.

From Rosie

x.com/RosieDuffield1/status/1861466475875164433?t=Mc96B_2iHs1tx2OMBzB8qA&s=19

Would that have been Kemi's doing, the Tory Whips, or what?

Yes, the tories are making mischief. However, Labour is presenting them with an open goal with their dithering, obfuscating and mixed messages. And Rosie will do an excellent job.

Why have the Tories got only 2 places.

But if it is really only 2 then seems like a good move to have someone who is well versed and not afraid to speak out.

Even so, for this Committee not to have one Tory seems a bit strange.

It would have been the Tory whips though they might have consulted with Tory HQ which would have been under Sunak at time. They may have held back till election was over perhaps who knows ?Hilarious move, and great politics. Rosie is likely to get more coverage for whatever she says than a Tory member.

The other Tory place goes to Shivani Raja MP for Leicester East since 2024. She gained the seat from Claudia Webbe. She was appointed as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Shadow Equalities Office when Kemi Badenoch took over from Rishi Sunak as Leader of the Conservative Party.

Very clever appointment too.