• Contact
  • About
DONATE
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
  • Login
North East Bylines
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Brexit
    • Education
    • Environment
    • European News
    • Health
    • Politics
    • Science
    • UK News
    • World News
    Electric black taxi

    South Tyneside taxi transitioning dilemma

    man looking anxious

    Never assume: honesty and mental health

    Flood in York in 2022. Climate change brings about more floods and not just heatwaves and wildfires

    The Tories’ climate change policy does not add up

    A sign with the "not equal" symbol is held in a crowd

    Inequality and development: from global to local

    South Tyneside's only black electric taxi

    A sustainable policy for Tyneside taxis

    Ben Houchen by Scott Hunter

    Alleged National Audit Office review of Teesworks

    Child poverty protestor

    Child poverty: enough is enough

    Boys with kite in Kabul

    One year since the fall of Afghanistan

    North East for Europe at an earlier London march

    The North East in London for National Rejoin March

    Trending Tags

    • Ukraine
  • Culture
    • All
    • Animation
    • Books
    • Illustrations & More
    • Music
    • Performance
    • Poetry
    • Social Media
    • Theatre
    • TV & Radio
    The Flying Wheelnuts

    Saturday sellout at Hardwick Festival

    The Rock Showman

    Hardwick Festival is down with the kids

    Witty Look

    All aboard the festival bus for Hardwick this weekend

    Boys with kite in Kabul

    One year since the fall of Afghanistan

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    Master Chef of Great Britain

    Master Chef of Great Britain at Lumley

    Prezzo

    Discovering the new summer menu at Prezzo

    Chef and son

    MasterChef’s’ Posh Street Food chef’s own summer of entertainment

    Scottish highlands

    The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

    Kleo Tabuku

    Top chef to open Newcastle restaurant, Lovage

    Pop up park

    Pop up to the park in Sunderland

    The Blackbird Inn, Ponteland

    The Blackbird Inn flies high with its new summer menu

    gymnast

    Culture of fear in British gymnastics uncovered by the Whyte Review

    Kennedy and Rhind

    Kennedy and Rhind: more time to enjoy a North East favourite

    Trending Tags

    • Business
      • All
      • Economy
      • Rural
      • Technology
      • Trade
      • Voluntary Sector
      Electric black taxi

      South Tyneside taxi transitioning dilemma

      Liz Truss

      Tory leadership election: Liz Truss should look at how economies work

      Ben Houchen by Scott Hunter

      Alleged National Audit Office review of Teesworks

      Fishing protest

      Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

      Scottish highlands

      The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

      loo

      A room with a loo

      Newcastle quayside

      Newcastle named as one of the best cities for graduates

      Brexit economics

      New research shows the economic effect of Brexit

      Wetherspoons pub

      Wetherspoons sparkle: has it gone flat?

      Trending Tags

      • Region
        • All
        • Co. Durham
        • North East
        • Northumberland
        • Teesside
        • Tyneside
        • Wearside
        Fire in Gosforth

        Firefighters praised for life-saving response to Gosforth arson attack

        A sign with the "not equal" symbol is held in a crowd

        Inequality and development: from global to local

        South Tyneside's only black electric taxi

        A sustainable policy for Tyneside taxis

        Ben Houchen by Scott Hunter

        Alleged National Audit Office review of Teesworks

        Child poverty protestor

        Child poverty: enough is enough

        Tyne Bridge

        Newcastle shortlisted for Eurovision 2023

        Wildfire at Witherwack

        “Busier than Bonfire Night” as wildfire rages for over 20 hours

        Fishing protest

        Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

        NUFC foodbank

        Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

        Trending Tags

        • Opinion
          Titanic coming out of Southampton

          The 110th anniversary of the Titanic’s departure

          There is an England

          There is an England

          Prime Minister Boris Johnson signs the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union"

          The parody of disinformation: Boris Johnson on Ukraine and Brexit

          Boris Johnson’s comments on Ukraine and Brexit are an insult

          TV Agency staff jumping in the air

          The TV Agency celebrates 10th anniversary with global success

          North East of County Dublin

          North East of England and North East of County Dublin: Compare and contrast

          North Sea oil rig

          Copping out of COP: Ukraine, fossil fuels and nuclear fusion

          Placard with Boris Johnson as a clown

          Dictators, media and mobility: erosion of identity, sustenance and safety

          close up on a child's eye

          Racism and misogyny where there should have been safeguarding and security

        AUDIO
        No Result
        View All Result
        • Home
        • News
          • All
          • Brexit
          • Education
          • Environment
          • European News
          • Health
          • Politics
          • Science
          • UK News
          • World News
          Electric black taxi

          South Tyneside taxi transitioning dilemma

          man looking anxious

          Never assume: honesty and mental health

          Flood in York in 2022. Climate change brings about more floods and not just heatwaves and wildfires

          The Tories’ climate change policy does not add up

          A sign with the "not equal" symbol is held in a crowd

          Inequality and development: from global to local

          South Tyneside's only black electric taxi

          A sustainable policy for Tyneside taxis

          Ben Houchen by Scott Hunter

          Alleged National Audit Office review of Teesworks

          Child poverty protestor

          Child poverty: enough is enough

          Boys with kite in Kabul

          One year since the fall of Afghanistan

          North East for Europe at an earlier London march

          The North East in London for National Rejoin March

          Trending Tags

          • Ukraine
        • Culture
          • All
          • Animation
          • Books
          • Illustrations & More
          • Music
          • Performance
          • Poetry
          • Social Media
          • Theatre
          • TV & Radio
          The Flying Wheelnuts

          Saturday sellout at Hardwick Festival

          The Rock Showman

          Hardwick Festival is down with the kids

          Witty Look

          All aboard the festival bus for Hardwick this weekend

          Boys with kite in Kabul

          One year since the fall of Afghanistan

        • Lifestyle
          • All
          • Fashion
          • Food & Drink
          • Health & Fitness
          Master Chef of Great Britain

          Master Chef of Great Britain at Lumley

          Prezzo

          Discovering the new summer menu at Prezzo

          Chef and son

          MasterChef’s’ Posh Street Food chef’s own summer of entertainment

          Scottish highlands

          The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

          Kleo Tabuku

          Top chef to open Newcastle restaurant, Lovage

          Pop up park

          Pop up to the park in Sunderland

          The Blackbird Inn, Ponteland

          The Blackbird Inn flies high with its new summer menu

          gymnast

          Culture of fear in British gymnastics uncovered by the Whyte Review

          Kennedy and Rhind

          Kennedy and Rhind: more time to enjoy a North East favourite

          Trending Tags

          • Business
            • All
            • Economy
            • Rural
            • Technology
            • Trade
            • Voluntary Sector
            Electric black taxi

            South Tyneside taxi transitioning dilemma

            Liz Truss

            Tory leadership election: Liz Truss should look at how economies work

            Ben Houchen by Scott Hunter

            Alleged National Audit Office review of Teesworks

            Fishing protest

            Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

            Scottish highlands

            The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

            loo

            A room with a loo

            Newcastle quayside

            Newcastle named as one of the best cities for graduates

            Brexit economics

            New research shows the economic effect of Brexit

            Wetherspoons pub

            Wetherspoons sparkle: has it gone flat?

            Trending Tags

            • Region
              • All
              • Co. Durham
              • North East
              • Northumberland
              • Teesside
              • Tyneside
              • Wearside
              Fire in Gosforth

              Firefighters praised for life-saving response to Gosforth arson attack

              A sign with the "not equal" symbol is held in a crowd

              Inequality and development: from global to local

              South Tyneside's only black electric taxi

              A sustainable policy for Tyneside taxis

              Ben Houchen by Scott Hunter

              Alleged National Audit Office review of Teesworks

              Child poverty protestor

              Child poverty: enough is enough

              Tyne Bridge

              Newcastle shortlisted for Eurovision 2023

              Wildfire at Witherwack

              “Busier than Bonfire Night” as wildfire rages for over 20 hours

              Fishing protest

              Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

              NUFC foodbank

              Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

              Trending Tags

              • Opinion
                Titanic coming out of Southampton

                The 110th anniversary of the Titanic’s departure

                There is an England

                There is an England

                Prime Minister Boris Johnson signs the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union"

                The parody of disinformation: Boris Johnson on Ukraine and Brexit

                Boris Johnson’s comments on Ukraine and Brexit are an insult

                TV Agency staff jumping in the air

                The TV Agency celebrates 10th anniversary with global success

                North East of County Dublin

                North East of England and North East of County Dublin: Compare and contrast

                North Sea oil rig

                Copping out of COP: Ukraine, fossil fuels and nuclear fusion

                Placard with Boris Johnson as a clown

                Dictators, media and mobility: erosion of identity, sustenance and safety

                close up on a child's eye

                Racism and misogyny where there should have been safeguarding and security

              No Result
              View All Result
              North East Bylines
              No Result
              View All Result
              Home News Politics

              It’s still a man’s world

              By contrast, Labour has put forward 17 male and 17 female shadow cabinet members on The Andrew Marr Show. On Sophy Ridge on Sunday, 18 male shadow cabinet ministers and 17 female shadow cabinet ministers have made an appearance since the first lockdown.

              Peter BensonbyPeter Benson
              02-02-2021 05:51
              in Politics, UK, UK News
              Illustration of woman with sauce bottle.

              Photo in the public domain

              Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
              ADVERTISEMENT

              What a statement to make in January 2021, no its not January 1921 when this was most definitely true. As a father with two daughters, I constantly tell them there is nothing that they cannot do now, if they want to. Perhaps there is one exception though, readers may wish to build on my initial short list. My list is very short, but it’s so representative of the country, our society and of our democracy and its unforgivable that this is happening. My list starts with the leaders of our country and the Conservative Party cabinet. There are 21 members of the cabinet, 16 are male and five females. Perhaps we should be lucky that there are even five female members, but when it comes to the flagship political TV programmes on Sunday mornings, it appears that the government is applying its ‘stay at home’ message to the female ranks of the cabinet. Perhaps the women are at home ironing on a Sunday and doing household chores.   

              It is understood that Allegra Stratton, the prime minister’s new spokeswoman, has been tasked with implementing a new strategy to redress the gender imbalance within the party, parliament and policy. But this is going to become an impossible job isn’t it? The government is led by an elitist class of ‘posh boys’ who all principally went to private school followed largely by Oxford, Exeter, Cambridge or Durham university where behaviour towards female gradates has been shocking and has featured in national news reporting recently. 

              What kind of behaviour did these members of the current cabinet practice when in university? We know that Mr Johnson had a colourful time at university and was notorious in his reported activities and why does it matter now? His multiple marriages tell their own story.  These male members of the cabinet seem to like the sound of their own voices and being in front of the camera and have totally dominated all the appearance of these flag ship political programmes.

              Details of the latest snub to Johnson’s female cabinet ministers have provoked a backlash among senior women in the party. Caroline Nokes, the former minister who chairs the Commons women and equalities committee, said: “By not putting up female ministers to speak on the main political Sunday morning programmes, the party is failing to engage with half of the electorate. It also smacks of a government led by men for men”.

              Baroness Jenkin of Kennington, who co-founded Women2Win to promote women in politics, said: “Women make up 51 per cent of the population, and it is unhelpful when they don’t see anyone who looks like them and sounds like them on the main political programmes.”

              In total, male cabinet ministers have appeared on the programmes 65 times since the start of the first lockdown, while Patel — the only female cabinet minister to be put forward — has appeared just twice during the same time period. Thérèse Coffey, who runs the Department for Work and Pensions and has overseen the expansion of universal credit, has not appeared once, and nor has Liz Truss, the international trade secretary.

              By contrast, Labour has put forward 17 male and 17 female shadow cabinet members on The Andrew Marr Show. On Sophy Ridge on Sunday, 18 male shadow cabinet ministers and 17 female shadow cabinet ministers have made an appearance since the first lockdown.

              Johnson has previously been accused of not valuing the women in his top team after it emerged in December that Downing Street had not used a female minister to lead its coronavirus press conference for more than six months. Patel has since led two press conferences.

              A spokesman for the BBC said: “We request female ministers and representatives from all of the political parties, but we can’t control which political guests agree to appear.”

              A spokeswoman for Sky said: “Sky News believes in parity of opinions and voices and is an advocate of diversity on screen and off screen.”

              One political party where diversity is embedded in their DNA is the Green party. There are two co leaders a man and woman, Jonathan Bartley and Sian Berry. I had the pleasure of meeting Caroline Lucas MP, their only member of parliament, and being photographed with her at a Channel 4 debate in November 2019. She was the only woman in a debating panel of four but she got the best response and reaction from the audience.  Why is it strange that we remember so well the strong articulate consummate performances given by some of our top women MP’S like Caroline Lucas and Yvette Cooper, who is chair of the Home Affairs Select committee.?  Out of 650 MP’s in parliament there are only 191 women, just 21% of the total.

               But this male dominance has even spread into Covid-19 official messaging. The government was forced to withdraw an advert which featured women home schooling, doing domestic chores like ironing while the male who featured in the advert was relaxing on a couch while his wife and daughter was curled up beside him. The advert provoked furious criticism and was withdrawn. 

              Lorraine Candy, former editor of Sunday Times Style Magazine who reported on the advert, along with Glamour magazine, said: “Are there no intelligent, smart women advising the government about this? I am perplexed by the lack of awareness.”  It would appear none are around in the cabinet or in senior roles within the civil service and who could have approved this advert.

              A report last November by the Fawcett Society, a charity campaigning for equal rights, found the pandemic was having a ‘devastating’ effect on gender equality in the workplace, with women more likely than men to lose their jobs or be left dealing with childcare.

              So, with females making up 51% of the population, these old male and pale stereo typical males better watch out. There are smart women out there in every political party who will, given half a chance, take their jobs and be much better at them and the Green party is leading by example.

              We need enormous political change. Let’s make it happen now, the suffragettes didn’t die for nothing did they?

              ADVERTISEMENT
              Previous Post

              My first 10 years

              Next Post

              The Scottish creel industry: on the brink of collapse

              Peter Benson

              Peter Benson

              Related Posts

              Electric black taxi
              Business

              South Tyneside taxi transitioning dilemma

              byMark Bell
              August 19, 2022
              Flood in York in 2022. Climate change brings about more floods and not just heatwaves and wildfires
              Environment

              The Tories’ climate change policy does not add up

              byGiuseppe Bignardi
              August 18, 2022
              A sign with the "not equal" symbol is held in a crowd
              North East

              Inequality and development: from global to local

              bySophie Lively
              August 17, 2022
              Ben Houchen by Scott Hunter
              Business

              Alleged National Audit Office review of Teesworks

              byScott Hunter
              August 16, 2022
              Child poverty protestor
              North East

              Child poverty: enough is enough

              byPeter Benson
              August 15, 2022
              Next Post
              Photo of Scottish Fisherman.

              The Scottish creel industry: on the brink of collapse

              Want to support us?

              Can you help North East Bylines to grow and become more sustainable with a regular donation, no matter how small?  

              DONATE

              Sign up to our newsletter

              If you would like to receive the North East Bylines regular newsletter, straight talking direct to your inbox, click the button below.

              NEWSLETTER

              LATEST

              Electric black taxi

              South Tyneside taxi transitioning dilemma

              August 19, 2022
              The Flying Wheelnuts

              Saturday sellout at Hardwick Festival

              August 19, 2022
              Liz Truss

              Tory leadership election: Liz Truss should look at how economies work

              August 18, 2022
              Fire in Gosforth

              Firefighters praised for life-saving response to Gosforth arson attack

              August 18, 2022
              man looking anxious

              Never assume: honesty and mental health

              August 18, 2022
              Flood in York in 2022. Climate change brings about more floods and not just heatwaves and wildfires

              The Tories’ climate change policy does not add up

              August 18, 2022

              MOST READ

              Electric black taxi

              South Tyneside taxi transitioning dilemma

              August 19, 2022
              The Flying Wheelnuts

              Saturday sellout at Hardwick Festival

              August 19, 2022
              Liz Truss

              Tory leadership election: Liz Truss should look at how economies work

              August 18, 2022
              Fire in Gosforth

              Firefighters praised for life-saving response to Gosforth arson attack

              August 18, 2022

              BROWSE BY TAGS

              Audio Beach Brexit Business castle leazes climate activism Co. Durham cost of living crisis Culture defra democracy ducklings Economy Education Environment fire and rescue firefighter Food & Drink food poverty Health Health & Care Home Affairs just stop oil Lifestyle Local Lockdown Northumberland Peace Performance Politics pride month refugee rescue Science Social Media Teesside TV & Radio Tynemouth Tyneside Ukraine volunteer Wearside

              We are a not-for-profit citizen journalism publication. Our aim is to publish well-written, fact-based articles and opinion pieces on subjects that are of interest to people in the North East and beyond.

              North East Bylines is a trading brand of Bylines Network Limited, which is a sister organisation to Byline Times.

              Learn more about us

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Contact
              • About
              • Letters
              • Donate
              • Privacy
              • Bylines network
              • Shop

              © 2022 North East Bylines. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Home
              • News
                • Brexit
                • Education
                • Environment
                • UK News
                • Transport
                • World News
              • Politics
              • Opinion
              • Lifestyle
                • Culture
                • Music
                • Poetry
              • Business
                • Economy
                • Technology
                • Trade
              • Donate
              • Newsletter sign up
              • Boriiis Cartoons
              • Authors
              • Audio

              © 2022 North East Bylines. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              Welcome Back!

              Login to your account below

              Forgotten Password?

              Retrieve your password

              Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

              Log In