UK Minister Calls for Gender Balance in Government - Building Gender Balanced Business

• Harriet Harman MP caused a mild storm in the press when she argued in favour of gender balance in the UK.

• Harman, a committed feminist, raised the issue in an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper in August. At the time she was responsible for running the country while her boss, Gordon Brown, was away on holiday. Harman has many official roles including Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Leader of the House of Commons, and Minister for Women and Equality.

• Two years ago, Harman tried to introduce a new rule, by which the Labour Party would have to appoint at least one woman to the top two roles (Prime Minister or Deputy). This was rejected by her ministerial colleagues. However, she still believes it is necessary.

• “I don’t agree with all male leadership. Men cannot be left to run things on their own. I think it is a thoroughly bad thing to have a men-only leadership,” she told the newspaper.

• Later on in the interview she said: “In a country where women regard themselves as equal, they are not prepared to see men just running the show themselves. I think a balanced team of men and women makes better decisions.”

• The Sunday Times reported that Ms. Harman was also considering launching a rival international summit to the male-dominated G20 to be called the Gender 20.

Source: The Sunday Times, August 2, 2009.