Labour Women Urge Burnham for Gender Parity in Government
Andy Burnham is being urged by female Labour MPs to commit to a 50:50 gender split within his government should he become prime minister in July.
A draft letter from the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party (WPLP), seen by the BBC, states that Labour must lead by example with its own personnel if it wants to be recognized as the party of equality.
Demanding that change start at the highest levels, the WPLP writes:
"We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government."
Labour has never had an elected female leader, whereas the Conservative Party has had three female prime ministers and is currently led by Kemi Badenoch.
Burnham is expected to remove Chancellor Rachel Reeves from her position as the first ever woman in No 11, with top contenders to replace her being men.
He will also bring back New Labour ally James Purnell as his chief of staff, a position that under Sir Keir Starmer was shared by two women.
One member of the WPLP suggested it would not be acceptable "to have more Milibands in the great offices of state than women".
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is a possible contender for chancellor in a Burnham government. There is speculation that his brother David Miliband could return to UK politics as foreign secretary, potentially through an appointment to the House of Lords.
However, Burnham moved to reassure the WPLP he was an ally at a meeting this week, promising to dismiss any staff who undermined women in his team.
Labour MPs have expressed concerns about feeling undermined by what they describe as a "boy's club" culture in Westminster. They say this has contributed to scandals, structural misogyny, bullying, and a failure to adequately address reports of sexual harassment.
The draft letter, yet to be sent to Burnham, states:
"We have fought very hard to achieve our electoral success only to find that we are battling within our own party to be heard as women.
Rooms where decisions are being made are often closed to us leading to blind spots in appointment decisions and policy development.
The tendency of previous leaderships to sideline the voices of women makes us a weaker government."
In a 13-point plan aimed at removing barriers to gender equality, the WPLP calls for a female deputy prime minister, as well as a separate first minister of state for women.
It also calls for zero tolerance of bullying or misogyny from No 10 staff and parliamentarians, as well as unprofessional behaviour that diminishes the contributions of women.
The letter highlights threats to women, particularly female MPs belonging to ethnic minorities, requesting better security and legislative action to limit online abuse and deepfakes.
The same group previously pressured Sir Keir Starmer to appoint a woman as first secretary of state, a powerful but still vacant role at the top of government.
Harriet Harman, a former Labour deputy leader who served as acting party leader briefly in 2010 and 2015, has long advocated for gender equality within the party.
She was appointed as an adviser on women and girls by Sir Keir Starmer following backlash to Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador amid the Jeffrey Epstein controversy, which Harman said would never have occurred if women had been involved in decision-making.
Burnham is currently the only candidate to announce a bid to replace Sir Keir as prime minister. If no other Labour MP stands, he could become prime minister as early as 20 July.
He has praised Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and is expected to reward senior northern MPs who supported him should he form a new government.
These include deputy leader of the Labour Party Lucy Powell and former transport secretary Louise Haigh, who managed his campaign during the Makerfield by-election.
Starmer faces calls to appoint a woman to the first secretary of state role.
MPs have reported frequent instances of inappropriate behaviour in the Commons.
Harman advocates for zero tolerance of sexual harassment by MPs.
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