‘More women needed’ in Labour leadership
Senior minister Harriet Harman has refused to rule out interest in replacing John Prescott as deputy prime minister.
The constitutional affairs minister has argued that there should be more women at the top tiers of government.
“Obviously there’s no vacancy at the moment but this is a principle I’ve been putting forward with a number of my women colleagues in for many decades,” she told the BBC.
“You really don’t get anywhere unless you challenge things. We’ve made some progress. we used to have all-male cabinets. we only got there by protesting so we’re actually saying, right at the top, we need a team of women and men.”
Ms Harman faces tough opposition for the role of deputy prime minister if she decides to run – education secretary Alan Johnson, Commons leader Jack Straw and Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain have all been named as possible contenders.
Ms Harman said last week that she had advocated the benefits of a top team of women and men for many years.
When asked if she wanted the job of second-in-command for herself, she told the BBC: “That’s a decision I’ll have to make at the time.”
Beleagured deputy prime minister John Prescott has recently given up his country home Dorneywood after criticisms over his role in government.
He had his department taken away from him after revelations of an affair with his private secretary, Tracey Temple.
Mr Prescott has kept his £134,000-a-year salary after agreeing to chair nine cabinet committees and deputising for the prime minister on seven others.
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