Mrs Badenoch mocks Labour over claim Burnham will be like a ‘female PM’

Mrs Badenoch has mocked Labour after a senior party figure claimed Andy Burnham would be their “first woman prime minister”.

A senior party source told The Spectator that the Makerfield MP would have an “unashamedly female agenda” focused on “health, education, family finances and issues like safer streets, social care [and] online safety for kids”.

The source added that “Andy, surrounded by female advisers and backers”, had a passion for “female-orientated issues and much less so with the bombs and budgets” and would be Labour’s first female prime minister in “all but sex”.

The comments drew derision from the Tory leader, who posted: “Labour might have changed leader, but they still don’t know what a woman is.”

The Labour source claimed that female leaders of the Conservatives – there have been four – felt “under internal pressure ... to show how tough they are on traditionally male issues”.

Claire Coutinho, the shadow equalities minister, joked online: “I, for one, only focus my tiny lady mind on energy, the economy or defence when I’m trying to impress the boys.”

Author and women’s rights campaigner JK Rowling was equally scathing online.

She posted: “Great news. The Labour Party has finally found a woman they fancy as leader. It’s a man who’ll be ‘a female PM in all but sex’. A senior figure in the party actually thought that was a good thing to say out loud.”

Mrs Badenoch has accused Sir Keir Starmer of overseeing a “boys’ club culture” in Downing Street.

In February, Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, condemned No 10 for briefings “absolutely dripping with misogyny” following stories about Bridget Phillipson and other women in Government.

Wes Streeting, the former health secretary, also took aim at the misogyny of Sir Keir’s No 10.

After his victory in Makerfield last Thursday, Mr Burnham credited his campaign organisers, Labour MPs Louise Haigh and Anneliese Midgley, for forging his path to victory and back to Westminster.

However, critics have pointed out that many of the biggest roles in the premiership run by Mr Burnham will go to men. His chief of staff is set to be James Purnell, a former Blairite minister, and the battle for chancellor is between two men: Ed Miliband and Wes Streeting. Mr Burnham’s leading economic advisers are also all men.

Rachel Reeves, who made great play of becoming Labour’s first female chancellor, is set for demotion.

Olly Robbins, sacked by Sir Keir in a row over Lord Mandelson’s vetting, is now tipped to return to No 10 as Mr Burnham’s national security adviser, while Nick Thomas-Symonds is expected to stay on as the Government’s chief negotiator with the EU.

In contrast, Ms Powell is expected to get a supporting role in government, as deputy prime minister, while Ms Haigh is tipped to become the chief secretary to the prime minister.

‘Utter insulting nonsense’

The Labour comments in The Spectator also drew criticism from Labour’s female MPs.

Tulip Siddiq, the MP for Hampstead and Highgate, said: “If there’s anything to make me feel more angry about the fact that no female MP has put themselves forward to be our leader, it’s reading utter insulting nonsense like this.”

Emily Darlington, the MP for Milton Keynes, told The Telegraph that she found it “hard to imagine it came from anyone in Andy’s team”.

“Some bloke who wants to be promoted clearly thought he was being helpful but it shows how much misogyny women continue to face in politics.

“Women are more than capable of delivering in any government department for both sexes.”

Mr Burnham’s team distanced itself from the remarks. A source close to the Makerfield MP said: “This framing is ridiculous and speaks to a briefing culture which is out of date and out of touch.

“The Labour Party is full of talented women and Andy is proud to be backed by many of them.”

[Source: Daily Telegraph]