Harriet Harman accused of double standards over shortlist
EQUALITIES Minister Harriet Harman has been accused of double standards after reportedly failing to back an all-women shortlist for a seat contested by her husband, Jack Dromey.
Mr Dromey, 62 – deputy general secretary of trade union Unite – is being lined up to replace Birmingham Erdington MP Sion Simon.
But Labour’s deputy leader, 59, is said to have failed to lend her support at a key meeting to decide whether to impose an all-women shortlist. One critic said: “Harriet is obsessed with all-women candidate lists, insisting that winnable seats should go to the sisterhood, but suddenly she goes missing so that Jack can join her in the House.”
Labour’s National Executive Committee decided against a women-only list.
A party spokesman said: “To suggest the selection process is anything other than fair would be wrong.” Ms Harman was unavailable for comment last night.