Maria Caulfield Minister for Women

Yes. Along with Coffey a practicing Catholic who has a worrying attitude towards abortion.

Yes, I share your concerns. I do not trust her to be impartial.

I feel the same about the appointment of Kemi Badenoch as Minister for Women and Equalities, when she has publicly mocked gay marriage and denied racial inequality.

It's almost as though there's an agenda ...

Will these females stand up for women’s rights ? Are we moving backwards ? I find this a great worry.

I fail to see how Ms Caulfield will protect women’s rights. When asked about her stance on abortion and appointment as Minister for Women, she reportedly told Cosmopolitan U.K. that given we have some of the most liberal abortion laws in the world, it is clear that unlike some, I respect parliamentary democracy and accept the results of votes in parliament where I may have voted differently.

She is on record as voting against legalising abortion in NI.

Also opposed the use of buffer zones around abortion clinics to protect women against anti abortion protestors. and is reported as saying that the definition of “harassment” is open to interpretation.

I am also concerned that if the amendments to the Human Rights Bill goes ahead The British Bill of Rights which seems to be paused at present, it will further erode women’s rights.

Women’s rights, including the right to abortion may be more fragile than we think.

Yes. People with religious views should not become Ministers or they should recuse themselves from all decisions in which their religious views might affect their decision.

growstuff

I feel the same about the appointment of Kemi Badenoch as Minister for Women and Equalities, when she has publicly mocked gay marriage and denied racial inequality.

It's almost as though there's an agenda ...

Could you tell me where to find this "mocking" of gay marriage by Kemi Badenoch, please, gs? I rather like her and would be disappointed to find she had actually mocked gay marriage.

By way of explanation (somewhat), I read/listened to an argument about definitions of marriage recently that distinguished between marriage adopted by most human societies for, as far as is possible, the creation of new people, and more modern takes which include gay marriage.

It was an interesting distinction that I hadn't come across before (though fully aware of the whys and wherefores of traditional religious support for heterosexual marriage), and one which I think one can hold without being against gay marriage.

I've done some searching and I rather think that this is the explanation for what some perceived as mocking:

"This 2018 comment has been taken out of context, with the Minister making a clear point about striking the balance for equality and fairness when there are multiple and often competing demands between different groups. It should not be used to misrepresent her views.”

The quote is from an article very critical of Badenoch in Vice.com.

I checked out some Independent articles too. Same result essentially. What KB has said has been misconstrued, as happens so often on LGBT issues.

Don't forget she's my MP Baggs. I've listened to her at two hustings. I've heard her talk about gay marriage, Muslims, travellers, racism, council tenants and other equal rights - all straight out of her own mouth. I've also seen letters she's written to constituents. If you're right wing, libertarian and couldn't give a damn about equal rights and don't think an MP should represent constituents, you're bound to like her.

No, what Badenoch said wasn't misconstrued. It's consistent with other things she's said.