Labor women say to Burnham that half of the next government should be women

Female Labor MPs have called for a 50:50 gender split in government when Andy Burnham becomes Prime Minister in July.

A draft letter from the Women’s Parliamentary Labor Party (WPLP), shown by the BBC, says that if Labor wants to be seen as an egalitarian party, it must set an example with its own workers.

The WPLP, which calls for change to start at the top, wrote: “We call on you to implement this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny in our party and government.”

Labor has never had a female leader, while the Conservative Party has had three female prime ministers and is currently led by Kimi Aden.

Burnham is expected to displace Chancellor Rachel Reeves as the first woman in No 11. The top contenders to replace her are men.

It will also bring back New Labor ally James Purnell as chief of staff, a position shared by two women under Sir Keir Starmer.

One WPLP member suggested it was unacceptable to have “more Milibands in big government offices than women”.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is a possible contender for chancellor in Burnham’s government. There is speculation that his brother David could return to UK politics as foreign secretary, possibly in a House of Lords appointment.

However, Burnham moved to reassure the WPLP that he was an ally at this week’s meeting, promising to fire any staffer who harmed women in his group.

Labor MPs have complained they feel victimized by what they call a boys’ club culture in Westminster. They say this has contributed to scandals, structural conflicts, bullying and turning a blind eye to reports of sexual harassment.

A draft letter to Burnham said: “We are struggling to feel like women in our party who have fought so hard to achieve our electoral success.

“Decision making rooms are often closed to us, leading to blindness in appointment decisions and policy development.

“The tendency of previous leaders to ignore the voice of women makes us a weak government,” he said.

In a 13-point plan to remove barriers to gender equality, the WPLP calls for a female deputy prime minister and a separate female first minister of state.

It also calls for anti-bullying or misogyny from Number 10 staff and MPs, as well as professional misconduct that diminishes the contribution of women.

The letter highlighted the threat to women, particularly women MPs from ethnic minorities, and called for better security and legislation to curb online abuse and fake news.

same group Put pressure on Sir Keir Starmer Appointing a woman as Secretary General, a powerful but still open position at the highest level of government.

In the year Former Labor deputy leader Harriet Harman, who briefly served as party leader in 2010 and 2015, has called for gender equality in the party.

Peter Mandelson was brought in by Sir Keir Starmer as adviser on women and girls amid the backlash surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s appointment as US ambassador, which Harman says would never have happened if women had been involved in decision-making.

Burnham is the only candidate to announce a bid to replace Sir Kerr as Prime Minister. If another Labor MP does not do so, he could become the next Prime Minister from July 20.

He praised Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood and is expected to reward senior northern MPs for their support if he forms a new government.

They were Labor deputy leader Lucy Powell and former transport secretary Louise Haig, who managed Makerfield’s campaign during the by-election.