Labour women attack 'laddish' culture at No 10

Monday, 13 July 2009 12:00 AM

By Liz Stephens

Senior female Labour MPs have criticised Gordon Brown for excluding women from the Cabinet.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4, former health secretary Patricia Hewitt said there was a "laddish" culture inside Downing Street.

This follows the recent high profile resignation of several senior female ministers, including Caroline Flint, who accused the prime minister of treating women as "window dressing".

Also speaking to the BBC, former minister Jane Kennedy said she agreed with suggestions that Mr Brown dealt with colleagues like a "mafia boss".

While former Lords leader Lady Jay admitted that she found the prime minister "quite intimidating".

"He doesn't make it easy to feel that you've established a personal connection," she added.

However, some prominent Labour women came to the prime minister's defence.

Business minister Baroness Vadera said Mr Brown was committed to getting more female MPs into parliament.

While Angela Smith said the number of women ministers compared favourably with "any party's alternative government".

She added: "I have never, ever felt held back by the Labour party because I am a woman."

But Ms Hewitt said the prime minister "needs to get a move on" with fulfilling his pledge to the party to change his style of government.

There are currently only four female members of the cabinet.

Tags:
• equality
,
• labour
,
• party politics