Labour and Feminism Side by Side Ed Miliband
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fabiana ISSUE # 2 The Fabian Women's Network Magazine WINTER 2012 Labour and Feminism Side by side Ed Miliband The welfare state we're in with views from Sweden and the Fawcett Society PLUS Seema Malhotra Torbjörn Hållö Potential energy Deborah Mattinson The economy Helen Wells needs more women Marc Stears Shadow Minister Chi Onwurah Laura Nelson Fabian Women’s Network e-magazine Fabiana winter 2012 Fabiana is the magazine of the Fabian Women’s Network (FWN). The articles represent the views of the writers only Contents and not the collective view oF FWN. Editorial 3 Ivana Bartoletti Politics must catch up with 4 the power of women Editor: Ivana Bartoletti Seema Malhotra MP Sub-editor: Suki Ferguson Side by Side 5 Designed by: jamesenglishdesign.com Ed Miliband MP Illustrations: www.daddoillustrations.com Stick to your guns, Fabiana 6 Deborah Mattinson 'Gender justice, society and 7 FWN Director: Seema Malhotra the state' roundtable Email: [email protected] Laura Nelson and Suki Ferguson Twitter: @FabianWomen Website: http://www.fabianwomen.co.uk Feminism and 'the State' 8-9 Monica Threlfall Lessons from Sweden 9-10 Fabian Society General Secretary: Andrew Harrop Interview with Torbjörn Hållö Fabian Society membership: Giles Wright 020 7227 4904 Hamleys sees the light 10 Eleanor Shember Critchley Politics starts in our daily life 11 Young Fabians (under 31s): www.youngfabians.org.uk Marc Stears Young Fabian Women: Claire Leigh, [email protected] Change the culture of the 12 welfare state Reema Patel Fabian Women’s Network Why we must rehabilitate 13 c/o Fabian Society the State in Europe 11 Dartmouth Street Ernst Stetter London SW1H 9BN What's next for the welfare 14 Telephone: 020 7227 4900 Fax: 020 7976 7153 state? Interview with Hilary Cottam Gender impact assessment: 15 FWN COmmittee not so taxing after all Felicity Slater Seema Malhotra – Director Time to release the UK's 16-17 Emma Carr – Secretary potential energy Johanna Baxter – Union Liaison Interview with Shadow Minister Laura Nelson – Head of Communications Chi Onwurah MP Christine Megson – Mentoring Scheme Co ordinator The power gap 18 Sarah Hutchinson – Researcher and Website Preethi Sundaram Emma Burnell – Events Manager Why women and profits 19 Ivana Bartoletti – Editor, Fabiana magazine rise together Jessica Asato – Events and Social Media Helen Wells Amina Lone – Fabian Women’s Network North Ditch Wonderwoman 20 Carolina Lindhal – Research and Membership Interview with Liz Nelson OBE Alex Kemp – Research and Events Making new citizens 21 Nina Champion – Events Umut Urel Claire Hickson – Events Where is the voice of real 22-23 Claire Leigh – Research and Mentoring Scheme outrage? Christine Quigley – Young Fabian Women liaison Sara Hamilton Fabian Women’s Network e-magazine Welcome to the second issue Ivana Bartoletti, of Fabiana! Editor am delighted that our launch issue There is little doubt that an effi- progressive agenda. We also look at I met with such great success at the cient and functioning State is essential women in the company boardroom: Labour Party Conference in September, for women: from childcare to support Shadow Minister for Innovation Chi and elsewhere! when out of work, from healthcare to legal Onwurah explains what the UK has to Progress is under threat as assistance to escape violence and abuse, gain by boosting women's presence at all women bear the brunt of the Tory-led a strong State has proved to be the way levels, especially in science and innova- Government’s reckless choices. We are forward not only to women’s emancipation tion; and Helen Walls makes a strong now seeing women being pushed out of but to economic growth as well. Institute business case for equal participation of the workforce, their income being driven of Fiscal Studies says that between women in boardrooms. down, while cuts to legal aid undermine 1968 and 2009, over a quarter of all growth The new year will be a strug- their access to justice and make them in household wealth came from women gle for so many. Contrary to what the more vulnerable to violence. working, compared with 8% from men: this Government claims, we are not all in this A clear sign of just how out of means that women in the UK have been together. Remuneration at the top soars touch the Tories are with most men and the main driver of the rise in living whilst cuts and stagnation afflict the women’s lives was Labour’s by-election standards over the last 40 years. middle and lower paid jobs. There is a real win at Feltham and Heston on the 15th This is why cuts to welfare are outcry for fairness out there which needs of December, with an 8.6% swing from a threat not only to women, but to the to be listened to. the Conservatives. How satisfying whole economy. Fabiana is at the forefront and inspiring for Fabiana readers If Labour constructs a new vision of the debate on how we build a new that the woman who comfortably of the state with women at its heart, progressive, reformist and winning alli- held the Labour seat was Seema it will be a better designed State, able ance in this country, knowing it can only Malhotra, Director of the Fabian to develop services rooted in a new be achieved with a powerful women’s Women’s Network! partnership between the centre and the presence and the clarity of a feminist I am very pleased Ed Miliband communities, and able to unlock all the lens. So I really hope that all of you is using Fabiana to deliver his vital untapped economic potential of the UK. readers, women and men, will put some message on why women are so central, In this issue, Deborah Mattin- of your personal energy into Fabiana, why Labour wants to walk side by side son explains why we need Fabiana, and add your voice and pass Fabiana on to with feminism, and how the party’s why we need women driving a strong, new readers. proud history of fighting for women is driving its ambitions for this country and its women now. Fabian Women's Network I am utterly convinced a new "Women Changing Politics" T-shirts and Mugs agenda for progressives needs to have women at its very heart, which is why this issue explores a theme very dear to women, the role of the State - and how to create a platform for equality through a new vision of the State. The Fabian Women's Network, together with IPPR and Cambridge Institute of Gender Studies, organ- ised a seminar on Gender Justice, Soci- For sale while stocks last! ety and the State, which you can catch T-shirts £9.50 each and mugs only £5 each up on here. Plus a variety of points of view are advanced on the State, includ- ing that of economist Torbjörn Hållö, To order, email [email protected] of the Swedish Trade Union, LO. or just visit our stall at the Fabian Conference on January 14th Fabian Women’s Network e-magazine 3 Seema Malhotra, Director of FWN and MP Politics must catch for Feltham and Heston up with the power of women Says new MP Seema Malhotra By Seema Malhotra n December 16th I received an email vote, or to refuse to say. For me, there is a tionship; when parties become distant, Ofrom the FWN website team saying, fundamental need to reform our politics voters may well change allegiance. This is “List of Fabian women MPs duly updated.” so it is, and feels, more closely connected an issue as much for men as for women in The reality of what had just happened to voters,. This was reinforced by my time the party to be concerned about. finally sank in – the whirlwind of the previ- on the doorstep during November and On the doorstep, when women ous three weeks was over – and a new role December. It is not that women don’t care, were undecided and we talked about local for me was about to begin. It is a real honour but that there is often not an obvious con- issues – youth unemployment, drugs, to have been elected as the new Member nection in their minds between what they women’s safety on the streets, to name of Parliament for Feltham and Heston, the care about and a cross on the ballot paper. a few – what made a difference was not area where I grew up and have spent so just about the handling of a specific issue, much of my life. My heartfelt thanks go to "Women’s votes will more but also about my identity: a woman from so many Fabian men and women who came their area who was the only woman on the to help in the by-election and in the process, likely follow when there is a ballot paper on a list of nine candidates. contributed to an increase in the number of It was clear to me that if I was to win, women and ethnic minorities in Parliament. genuine relationship; when I would have to think about my style of I was ‘introduced’ in the House politics in order to keep the women in the of Commons (as is the practice after a parties become distant, voters constituency involved in my work as their by-election) by Fiona Mactaggart MP representative; to have a plan for ongoing and Steve Pound MP on December 19th may well change allegiance. engagement, not just for the election. and swore in, in the presence of fellow Over the next few months, I’ll be parliamentarians.