GOVERNMENT WOMEN TO WATCH OUT FOR...
Hello there, lovely readers.
I hope life is good with you despite the dreadful weather. Hopefully, eventually our summer will arrive and we can enjoy a spell of good weather before the Autumn arrives.
Any road up, at least one thing has changed. And, by this I mean the change we’ve got at No. 10 Downing Street. Are you happy with the result? Politics aside, this will mean a fresh approach, renewed vigour to tackle the problems we now face.
And part of that renewed vigour means a record breaking number of female MP’s in the House of Commons. Of all ages too.
So, I thought I’d outline some of the female MP’s to watch out for. And give you a bit of their back-stories (well, as much as I’ve been able to find, anyway) which may explain why I think they’ll bring so much to the new government administration and hold the leaders to account, if need be.
Firstly, I’ve admired Jess Phillips for quite a while. She is the MP for Birmingham Yardley, an inner city ward, and has long campaigned and supported victims of domestic violence. She is an out and out feminist and be assured she will ensure that the new PM keeps his promises on women’s issues. I became aware of her when I read her book “Truth To Power” in which she admonishes anyone with an issue, particularly women, to call out the b******t. Have to say, I loved the book and developed a long-standing admiration for her.
The second powerful female MP I want to highlight is Carolyn Harris. She is MP for Swansea East and works hard for children’s and women’s issues. Currently in her 60’s, she is also the Chair of the All Parliamentary group on menopause which is responsible for changing the way menopause is regarded.
Like a lot of driven women, she had a tragedy in her life when she lost her son at 8 years old due to a traffic accident. She’s on record saying that she had to ask for donations to give her young boy the funeral he deserved.
Ever since, Carolyn has channelled her grief into working hard as an MP for women and children. Again, like Jess, she will be keeping a watching brief to ensure fairness to these two sectors of society.
And the third woman in government I want to highlight to you doesn’t always receive the best press. It’s Deputy Prime Minister and MP for Ashton Under Lyne, Angela Rayner. And yes, she has been a bit too gobby and ill advisedly posting some immature and insulting tweets on X/Twitter, but I put that down to inexperience and immaturity. And endured an investigation into a suspected financial irregularity from which she was fully cleared.
Again, she has a tragic back story where she left school at 16 pregnant and no qualifications. Putting herself through college in Stockport, she obtained a qualification in social care, and during this time became an official with the trade union, Unison. Then she started her path into politics and became an MP in 2015.
Given her poor start in life and how she has got herself to where she is now, instinct tells me again that she will be a total force for good in government. Time, I suppose, will tell.
Of course, there are far more fab women MP’s in the commons than the three I’ve highlighted above. But these are the three that have been on my radar and ones I’ve followed for a while. As time goes on, I’m sure more amazing and powerful MPs will come to the fore. And I get the impression that they will be supported. Well, here’s hoping anyway :)
Regular readers will be aware that for most of this year, I’ve been issuing the newsletter weekly. Initially, I issued the newsletter fortnightly when I started in 2020, but earlier this year I brought the production through to weekly.
I’m not sure it worked very well and I’m going to reverting back to issuing the newsletter fortnightly - two editions per month. I’m hoping having that extra time will allow me to bring you more relevant content that resonates with you. After all, we are living through exciting, changing times and I want to make sure mid-life and older women are in the forefront.
So watch this space.
Wishing you all a peaceful and enjoyable rest of the week, and I’ll see you in a fortnight’s time
Till then
Una x