Allegations of sexism within Labour government as Burnham prepares for premiership
A key ally of Andy Burnham has accused Keir Starmer’s government of “sexist” briefings against several senior female Labour MPs, reports BritPanorama.
Louise Haigh, who has supported Burnham’s rise as a potential Prime Minister, openly criticized attacks from a “cabal of men” targeting figures such as former deputy PM Angela Rayner, cabinet ministers Bridget Phillipson, and Lisa Nandy. Her remarks were made during a discussion on the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast.
Haigh emphasized, “The idea that there wasn’t a cabal of men that were deliberately mistreating women around the government is just fanciful.” This extraordinary intervention follows her recent resignation from the cabinet, a move she claims was spurred by the administration’s attempts to undermine her character.
As Sir Keir Starmer seeks to secure his legacy in his remaining days as Prime Minister, Haigh’s remarks spotlight the treatment of prominent female figures within Labour. She condemned the culture surrounding the government, stating that both Phillipson and Nandy, along with herself, have faced “incredibly sexist and unpleasant” media briefings orchestrated by government insiders.
“You only had to open the papers most days to read the vicious briefing that was happening,” she added. The treatment of former chief of staff Sue Gray was also highlighted, which Haigh described as “absolutely disgraceful.”
This is not the first instance of sexism accusations directed at the Starmer government. In February, Nandy criticized Labour’s media approaches that she claimed were “dripping with misogyny.” Haigh asserted that Burnham has been actively working to distance himself from the so-called ‘boys’ club’ culture that has been the subject of recent complaints by multiple female MPs regarding Starmer’s administration.
Haigh, who resigned from her role as transport secretary in 2024 after a plea regarding a criminal offence, revealed that Downing Street’s initial agreement on a statement about her disclosure to Starmer changed at the last minute. She recounted the difficulty in securing a conversation with Starmer after her resignation. “I had to really push even for a conversation with Keir; he didn’t want to have that conversation,” she remarked, acknowledging the painful experience of navigating the subsequent media fallout.
Reflecting on her past with Sir Keir, she noted, “I’ve had to sack people in my political career, and you don’t have to do it in a way that it’s frankly so hurtful.” Furthermore, she disclosed that Burnham had been contemplating his role as Prime Minister for at least the past year, underscoring a prolonged preparation for taking the helm.
The political dynamics within Labour as it edges toward a potential change in leadership highlight ongoing issues regarding the treatment of women in politics, raising important questions about accountability and the future direction of the party.
