Reshuffle boost for women
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.John Major has taken a further, albeit modest step to boost the numbers of women in his government. There are two among five new junior ministers.
None of the appointments offers little in compensation to the Tory right. The most significant leap goes to Angela Knight, formerly parliamentary private secretary to Kenneth Clarke, the Chancellor, who jumps over under- secretary level to become economic secretary at the Treasury, at minister of state level.
The step up will be seen as a fair, even overdue reward for Mrs Knight, 44, MP for Erewash, in Derbyshire, who supporters believed had been wrongly passed over in last July's reshuffle.
Also rewarded is Cheryl Gillan, 43, a former chairwoman of the centre- right Bow Group who served as parliamentary aide to Lord Cranborne, Leader of the Lords and Mr Major's leadership campaign manager. The MP for Chesham & Amersham, she becomes a parliamentary under secretary of state at the merged Department for Education and Employment.
While the promotions will be welcomed their addition to the Government payroll brings the total of female ministers to just 10, and a number of these sit in the Lords. The proportion of women ministers, out of a parliamentary party of 328, is 3 per cent. This is largely due to the low overall total of 20 women Tory MPs, 6 per cent.Labour boasts 39 women MPs out of its total of 270, making 14 per cent.
The other three newcomers are James Clappison, MP for Hertsmere, previously the aide to Home Office minister, Lady Blatch, who goes to environment; Oliver Heald, MP for Hertfordshire North and former PPS to William Waldegrave, who joins social security; and Raymond Robertson, MP for Aberdeen South and former aide to Michael Ancram, the Northern Ireland minister, who goes to the Scottish Office.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments