WOMEN AGAINST THE TIDE

29-05-2007

Despite the apparent success of women politicians since Tony Blair came to power, Birmingham’s female MPs have mostly come to grief - while their male counterparts have flourished. Time to think of more radical ways to keep battle of the sexes balanced, perhaps?

Such are the thoughts of exiled West Midlands blogger Praguetory. He points out that despite all the publicity surrounding “Blair’s Babes”, the likes of Estelle Morris, Clare Short and Lynne Jones have all left, or are about to leave parliament.

The sole survivor is Ghisela Stuart, whose Edgbaston seat is anything but safe.

MP’s like Robin Corbett and Jeff Rooker on the other hand have both earned peerages, ex Hodge Hill MP Terry Davis has secured a senior position on the Council of Europe, while the likes of Sion Simon, Khalid Mahmood and Roger Godsiff all look relatively secure in their constituencies.

In comparing the male/female experience Praguetory observes that “the Westminster culture is clearly a root cause of weakness. There is plenty of evidence that it is damaging for the family life of male MPs and probably more so for women”.

Hear hear to that. But his key suggestion that MPs should be able to vote remotely to save them spending more time at Westminster is altogether more contentious.

Yes, It might save a few marriages - and reduce Co2 emissions - but surely we are paying our elected representatives not only to be in the chamber, but also to be actively discussing proposed legislation with other well-informed colleagues.

It is not a job that can be fitted in around fetching the kids from school and changing nappies.

Let’s find ways of encouraging more women to get engaged in politics by all means - but not at the expense of the quality of our law-making.

(To read Praguetory’s article in full, click here)