Why has a woman never led the Labour Party?

To get back to the thread, Mo Mowlam, Clare Short, Anne Clwydd, Bessie Braddock, Jennie Lee, Margaret Beckett didn’t have children , and these are just a few.

So is it perhaps that Labour women are much more outspoken, do not always toe the party line, and will not be puppets?

Interesting point - because the above describes Jeremy Corbyn exactly - but he is male.
So why are Labour women who display the same traits not considered suitable to be Leader?

There is a bit of a difference between smartening someone up a bit and teaching someone to speak differently, bleach their hair and dress as instructed.

But this has also happened to Jeremy Corbyn - apart from bleaching his hair (it does look much different though) and not having to carry a handbag.

Quote anniebach [ Fennel, democracy, the tories are voted into power] End Quote

Perhaps if those which "claim" to be supporters and members of the Labour party gained knowledge of its structures and engaged in those to strengthen the movement, the Tories would not be voted into power.

you missed the point Varian I meant that women WITH children would put family above career,Ms Sturgeon only married a few years ago and had a miscarriage early in her position as FM who knows if she would have continued if her pregnancy had gone full term, given her age We are happy that she is FM but sad that her much wanted family didn't happen for her,but then Alex Salmond didn't have a family either so was able to dedicate his entire political life to his country .Usually its not considered if men have children how they will cope with a top job

Thatcher certainty didn’t put children before career

Margaret Thatcher had twins, so only one pregnancy. She was married to a wealthy man and could afford to employ whatever domestic help and childcare help she needed. This allowed her to focus on her ambition to be a politician. Her life was completely different to most woman of her time.

I have every sympathy for women like Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon who may have wanted children but for one reason or other never had them. Because they were childless, they could devote much more time and energy to fulfilling their ambitions, just as a man would. Very few man even in the 21st century, allow fatherhood to stand in the way of ambition, but many women still do.

It's rare in the world as a whole - exceptions Golda Meir, Indira Ghandi, both had children. And now Jacinda Arden in New Zealand (who is currently pregnant.)

I think NZ had two women PMs previously - Helen Clark and Jenny Shipley.
And, of course, Australia had Julia Gillard.

Actually, there have been quite a few - we must be lagging behind in the UK.

If I posted a comment that said a female Labour MP only got to the higher echalon of the party because of her husbands wealth I would quite rightly be slated for making such a crass comment.

If I said a female Labour MP only climbed the ladder in the party because of her background I would quite rightly be slated for making such a politically biased comment.

If I dared to say a female Labour MP rose in the ranks ' by repressing their female-ness ' or ' in my opinion don't have a "normal" female attitude ' I would have been lambasted and quite rightly so.

As for stating ' Alex Salmond didn't have a family either so was able to dedicate his entire political life to his country ' why does that apply to a man not a woman? I really struggle with the hypocrisy of that point of view.

If the Labour Party has not had a female Leader or Prime Minister it is because the Labour Party never chose one and what the Conservative Party or any other Party has done has no bearing on what Labour chose to do.

The decision is Labours to decide .

If you can find a female labour MP with an affluent husband POGS you could ask such question, However we are talking about 2 Conservative women MPs who both became PMs, who both have very rich husbands. One of whom certainly had her legal training paid for by her husband. It is reasonable to ask if having such a support has furthered both their careers.

.trisher you often speak of the 22 committee , are you saying they can be bought off?

Yes, I would definitely state they can be "bought off". With such members as Jacob Reece Mogg among its members still being involved with defying international sanctions put in place against Russia for personal monetry gain, that committe most certainly can be bought off.

Still, with only seventy thousand members nationaly with an average age of seventy one, the Conservative party have to accept whoever you can get as MPs

Pogs and that the reaction I was looking for ..NOBODY ever questioned Alex Salmonds childless state ..its been dragged through the newspapers about Nicola Sturgeon and even teresa May ...double standards?

And labour sell power to the unions

anniebach, what ridiculous unsubstantiated statement in the above.

trisher

' If you can find a female labour MP with an affluent husband POGS you could ask such question, '
--

Are you of the opinion all female Labour MP's have no wealth either on their own part or by marriage.? This scenario does not exist because that does not happen in the Labour Party?

I do not believe it has any bearing on their ability to perform as an MP or Leader of a political party hence I said if that was indeed my opinion. " I would
would quite rightly be slated for making such a crass comment."

trisher et all.

Is it your opinion women only gain high office because they have wealthy husbands in all walks of life or just when it comes to female Conservative MP's?

If your answer is no what makes female Conservative MP's different to any other female?

Old Meg Oh dear Day6 you really cannot see past your own prejudices can you?

The question raised was So is it perhaps that Labour women are much more outspoken, do not always toe the party line, and will not be puppets?

You can patronise all you like Old Meg. I am flabbergasted that it has been suggested in this day and age, by a women poster, that female Conservative politicians are more acceptable as leaders because they are compliant, toe the line and are puppets - for men, presumably.

It's not a political question really, is it? It's a sneering observation that Conservative women aren't as strong, and that is a sweeping generalisation and offensive to all women politicians.

It also suggests that men in the Labour Party are keeping women back, that they are too headstrong, outspoken and should know their place. If that is the case we can only assume male Labour MPs are a nasty lot trying to 'keep them in their place'.

My reply has nothing t do with prejudice, it's to do with the way women are perceived. I didn't suggest Labour women were "much more outspoken, do not always toe the party line, and will not be puppets" - the OP did. Then asked why their hadn't been a female leader of the Labour Party.

If Labour women are strong (like most women politicians) one has to wonder if their 'bolshiness' and strength frightens Labour men. If it does, it would suggest misogyny is rife within the Labour Party and women are being kept down.

Women should be worried.

Is it your opinion women only gain high office because they have wealthy husbands in all walks of life or just when it comes to female Conservative MP's?

If your answer is no what makes female Conservative MP's different to any other female?

Thank you POGS. I share your concern.

I find it incredible that women here are belittling other women who've risen to the top in politics because their political allegiance is different from theirs.

Talented and driven women are capable of reaching high office without the support of men, whether they are married or not, and whether they have a wealthy background or not.

I made my way to the top of my profession without a husband, as single mother and I did it through hard work, ambition,sacrifice and being thought pretty good at what I did. To suggest Conservative female MPs are rising through the ranks because of their husbands bank account is demeaning to them and to all women.

Labour MP Lady Nugent, aka Emily Thornberry, has a rich and titled old man yet she isn't leading the Labour Party. Why?

You think I’m patronising you Day6 ???

There has never been a woman leader of the Labour Party because the party has always been male dominated , nothing to do with wealth . No point in saying how many women are in the shadow cabinet in 2018, there are far more women standing for parliment now than there was in the eighties. Thinking back to the female MP’s who have been named in this thread ,who in 2018 compares with Mo,
Clare Short, Barbara Castle , there are strong women now but all on the back benches .

As far as wealth goes POGS and Day6 I think having it certainly does have influence on the lives of many MPs of all parties. As undoubtedly does having legal training. Emily Thornberry's wealth is not her husband's much of it is hers and her family's.
Do I think the 1922 committee can be bought? Yes I do. Not necessarily with money but certainly power granted if their agenda is promoted. To cross them is to invite removal as IDS found out. I wonder how many letters have been collected about TM so far?

trisher since you were the one who brought this subject up in the first place, why do you think the LP have never chosen a woman to lead the Party?

trisher

I am confused as Thornberry did the rounds on t.v expressing her upbringing quite openly some time back.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/emily-thornberry-so-poor-as-a-child-cats-were-put-down-islington-south-labour-a7964846.html

I do not give a tuppenny stuff about her background but 'IF' ever she became Labour Leader/PM I sure as hell would not say it was because of her husbands wealth or hers.

The question was:-

' Is it your opinion women only gain high office because they have wealthy husbands in all walks of life or just when it comes to female Conservative MP's?

If your answer is no what makes female Conservative MP's different to any other female?'