The Fawcett Society, a campaign group that strives to close the inequality gap between men and women, has released a statement highlighting concerns over the cabinet reshuffle which has cut the number of women from eight to five.
Dr Katherine Rake, director of the society, said: “The representation of women should be the hallmark of any ‘government of all the talents’. But by promoting just one woman who has not previously sat in cabinet he has overlooked the talents of many other capable women.”
On a positive note, Rake said that Brown was to be congratulated for his appointment of the first female Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith.
“We are also glad to see Baroness Scotland become the first Black Attorney General, but this is not a cabinet post and with the departure of Baroness Amos, the first Black woman ever to be appointed to cabinet, the under-representation of ethnic minority women in politics is sadly reflected at the top.”
In a warning to Brown, Rake said he risks losing the experience and perspectives that women bring and impoverishing the quality of debate and decision-making in UK politics if more women aren’t included at the top.
There are currently 126 women MPs or 20 per cent of MPs, of whom 95 are Labour (27 per cent of the party), 17 are Conservatives (9 per cent of the party) and nine are Liberal Democrats (14 per cent of the party).
