Harman says she is concerned at the sceptical view that many women hold of the Labour party, even though it is committed to equal rights. She says that it needs to embrace more women’s issues to ensure the support of the female vote in the next election.
In an article to be published in next month’s Fabian Review magazine, she warns that Labour needs to be wary about “over-claiming” its achievements.
In a clear message to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, she says that the team drawing up Labour’s election manifesto should not be overloaded with men to ensure that women can relate to it.
“Women’s lack of confidence in Labour should not cause us to lose confidence in what we’ve delivered for women. But neither can we ignore it,” she says. “It is a paradox that Labour is the party committed to equality and public services yet women are less satisfied than men with the government’s performance.”
New measures to make Labour attractive to women need to be delivered, according to Harman. She calls for more family-friendly policies to help women, including “offering individual support to get the work pattern that best suits them”. The gaps in women’s pension provision needed to be plugged, she says, “especially when they have lost out because of taking time to care for children or elderly relatives”.
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Harman warns: “Despite the progress we’ve already made and our commitment to go further, we will not win women’s support unless we can communicate with them.
“Labour has a great team of women members, MPs and ministers. So the third thing we need to do is ensure that the election campaign is a balanced group of men and women working together.”
The Conservatives have only 14 women MPs but have pledged to improve the levels of women and ethnic minorities at the next election. Labour saw a massive leap in its female representation in 1997 and now has 94 women MPs and five women in the cabinet.
Since 1997 Labour has continued to run all-women shortlists in certain constituencies. Many of the female Labour MPs are in marginal seats. A book recently showed that the 1997 intake was more obedient in voting for the government in the Commons — giving credence to the image of “Blair babes” who are afraid to rock the boat.