DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Next UK PM urged to end Labour Party’s ‘boys club’

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • As Andy Burnham prepares to become the UK's next prime minister, he faces pressure to address the Labour Party's alleged 'boys' club' culture.
  • Calls are mounting for women to hold half of the top positions in his first cabinet to ensure greater diversity.
  • The Labour Party, despite having more equality mechanisms than the Conservatives, has yet to elect a female leader, while the Conservative Party has had four female leaders.

Andy Burnham is set to become the UK's next prime minister, but he faces immediate calls to reform the Labour Party's internal culture. A significant challenge is addressing the alleged "boys' club" that some women within the party believe is hindering their progress.

To combat this, there are strong demands for Burnham to ensure that women occupy half of the senior roles in his inaugural cabinet. This push for diversity aims to "transform the political culture in government" concerning women's representation. Labour lawmaker Polly Billington emphasized the need for "less lads, lads, lads, and more diversity."

The calls for change are amplified by the fact that the Labour Party has never elected a female leader, contrasting with the Conservative Party, which has seen four women lead it, including former prime ministers Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May, and Liz Truss. Kemi Badenoch is the current Conservative leader.

We need less lads, lads, lads, and more diversity.

— Polly BillingtonA Labour lawmaker commenting on the need for greater diversity within the party.

Speculation about Burnham potentially bringing back figures like former Labour foreign minister David Miliband has drawn criticism. Billington alluded to this, stating, "I don’t really need to be organising or advocating for a reunion of the Demon Eyes football club," referencing a 1998 football team composed of prominent figures from the Tony Blair era. Burnham and Miliband, both former teammates on that squad, have been based in New York since 2013. Other former members like James Purnell and Ed Balls are also being considered for key roles.

Deputy party leader Lucy Powell shared her experiences of "unpleasant" briefings against senior female cabinet ministers, viewing them as evidence of a "boys' club" at the highest levels of government. Despite significant strides in female representation, with women making up 46% of Labour's lawmakers and a similar percentage in cabinet posts, the perception persists that women are excluded from wielding true power.

I don’t really need to be organising or advocating for a reunion of the Demon Eyes football club.

— Polly BillingtonResponding to speculation about former Labour figures returning to frontline politics.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog