EqualiTHEty GSpendecialer Fabian Review www.fabians.org.uk Spring 2011 3% OF MEN IN THE UK'S CHILDCARE WORKFORCE 4719 NUMBER OF MEN ELECTED TO NUMBER OF CONSTITUENCIES IN 2010 THE HOUSE OF WHERE ALL THREE MAJOR PARTY COMMONS SINCE CANDIDATES WERE MEN/WOMEN 1918 355 NUMBER OF WOMEN ELECTED TO THE HOUSE Still 267 OF COMMONS SINCE 1918 unequal Why the left is putting 11 women front and centre 86% 100 OF LOCAL 80 90% AUTHORITY 60 PROPORTION OF SINGLE 14% LEADERS ARE 40 PARENTS WHO ARE WOMEN, OF LOCAL AUTHORITY MEN 20 THE GROUP WORST AFFECTED LEADERS ARE WOMEN BY CUTS

£4.20 AMOUNT MEN STAND TO PERCENTAGE of MPs THAT ARE MEN/women LOSE A WEEK AFTER THE CUTS 68 32 Labour £8.80 84 16 Conservative AMOUNT WOMEN STAND TO Lib Dem LOSE A WEEK AFTER THE CUTS 88 12

The quarterly magazine of the Fabian Society Volume 123 no 1 £4.95

REVIEW OF THE SPRING Image: Adrian Teal

Democracy Day As both sides in the referendum battle voter apathy, the Yes campaign have won the arguments if not yet the votes.

What if they threw a referendum and hand. But Yes campaigners should to reversing a Labour retreat in the nobody came? Our first national do more than factual rebuttal – and southern regions, and would help to plebiscite for 35 years has hardly set the invite those campaigning against this mitigate the sharp regional polarisation country alight. (fictional) waste of money to join them of British politics. Labour voters will probably decide in a bipartisan promise to legislate There is no cast iron evidence about the referendum, though many may not that General Election votes shall be partisan effects. Voters and parties would vote on the issues. It is impossible to counted by hand, whether we keep the act differently under a new system. AV vote against the coalition Government: system or change it. There would be is good for broadly popular parties, and a No vote cast to spite Nick Clegg an overwhelming Commons majority bad for pariah parties. will also bolster David Cameron and to defuse the threat. Refusing such an Labour would have done better George Osborne. olive branch would be to openly admit under AV in recent elections, but badly in The Yes campaign makes too simple that the bogus campaign is a dirty trick. 1983. The Conservatives are increasingly a contrast between ‘democracy or An honest account of the choice panicked about a Yes vote, telling Tory duck houses‘, stretching a tenuous link would acknowledge several similarities donors to fund the No campaign or risk from safe seats to MP expenses. But between first-past-the-post and the having to fund a much more difficult re- the No campaign has focused primarily Alternative Vote. AV would retain a election campaign if the system changes. on false claims, making a blatant lie – parliament in which every MP represents AV would make securing a majority that changing the voting system will a single constituency, but must now for ‘no compromise’ Conservatism cost £250 million – its central public seek 50 per cent. Both are majoritarian harder, requiring a broader appeal argument, after its polling showed this systems, which will tend to deliver a beyond the Tory tribe than David could shift inattentive voters. majority to a single party which receives Cameron has yet achieved. But no There is a particular chutzpah in a 40 per cent of the vote, while both will electoral system would or should ever No campaign led by Matthew Elliott, the deliver hung Parliaments in conditions permanently exclude a major political head of The Taxpayers’ Alliance, which like those of May 2010. tradition from power. Tories feared hates public spending and campaigns I will vote Yes as the differences seem universal suffrage would kill them too, with passion for deeper cuts, running clearly in AV’s favour. X voting was fine but conservatives manage to live with emotive but irrelevant posters calling for in 1955 when there were, on average, 2.2 changes they opposed. more spending on premature baby units. candidates per constituency. This rose Fabians will make up their own Surely even they can’t believe it. to over 6 by 2010. Every voter can cast a minds on both sides of the argument. There will be no expensive voting real first choice vote under AV. Fifteen Do vote – and for the system you believe machines. None are planned, nobody per cent of voters say they don’t vote would be better for our democracy. wants them, and Australia counts for the candidate or party they want at Alternative Vote (AV) votes by present. This is particularly important SK

Spring 2011 Fabian Review 1 THE SPRING IN REVIEW email your views to: [email protected]

The Fabian New Year Conference cover claim that this year was “His Test Derek Clark, Labour’s shadow back at the end of January was Ed and Ours”, Miliband said: “you’ve got Europe minister Wayne David MP Miliband’s first big speech of 2011. to do your bit and I’ll do mine; that’s and Tory Eurosceptic Mark Reckless The new Labour leader spoke after the way we can build a platform for MP – at a one-day Fabian conference the by-election success in Oldham what you want, for what I want – to called ‘Britain & Europe: In, out or and Saddleworth and delivered an win the next election.” Elsewhere at the somewhere in between?’. In addition, optimistic call to action. He outlined conference Douglas Alexander clashed Ed Miliband’s policy chief Stewart the scale of the challenge faced by with Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Wood led a launch seminar for the Labour but was clear that “there is Hughes on how progressive voices recent Fabian and FEPS pamphlet a progressive majority in Britain”. could influence the coalition and the Europe’s Left in the Crisis: How the He said “the decision of the Liberal long-term shape of the centre-left. next left can respond. Reported by the Democrats to join a Conservative-led Daily Telegraph as “the most accurate Government was a tragic mistake … reflection going of where Labour is [but] I am certainly pleased that many Europe has been very much on heading”, the seminar discussed Liberal Democrats now see Labour as the Fabian radar in recent months. exclusive YouGov polling conducted the main progressive hope in British Shirley Williams led a diverse range for the pamphlet which revealed politics.” Echoing the Fabian Review’s of speakers – including UKIP MEP that behind a general anti-Brussels sentiment, there also lies a desire for greater co-operation between EU member states in core policy areas.

Recent Fabian chair Sadiq Khan MP launched Labour’s criminal justice policy review in a Fabian lecture. In his first major speech as shadow justice secretary, Khan praised the achievements of the last Labour Government in reducing violent crime and said the party should now support reducing the prison population. Khan wrote in the Guardian that “focusing on these issues is not about being soft on crime – it is about being effective in reducing it. This will be the test we put to the Government: are its policies cutting crime? We fear it will fail the test, because its focus is on cutting costs, not crime.” The following Q&A session included responses from Juliet Lyon (Director, Prison Reform Trust) and Matthew Ryder QC (Matrix Chambers).

Fabian General Secretary Sunder Katwala has been long-listed for The Orwell Prize in the political blogging category, for pieces published on the Fabian blog Next Left, as well as at the New Statesman and Left Foot Forward. The Orwell Prize website includes ten posts from each of the 22 long-listed bloggers, chosen from 220 entries for the prize, and so offers a good chance to discover some new online writers. You can read Sunder’s blog posts here: http://theorwellprize.

© Andrew Wiard co.uk/longlists/sunder-katwala/

2 Fabian Review Spring 2011 Fabian Review

Fabian Review is the quarterly journal of the Fabian Society [email protected] INSIDE Editor Tom Hampson Assistant Editor 4 How the Government has 16 After the cuts, is feminism Ed Wallis got it wrong on gender changing? Fabian Review, like all publications of equality… Ellie Levenson and Laurie Penny the Fabian Society, represents not the collective view of the Society, but only Howard Reed the views of the individual writers. The 18 Why Lib Dem women responsibility of the Society is limited to approving its publications as worthy 5 …and how to make face electoral meltdown of consideration within the Labour it better Sunder Katwala and Seema movement. Kitty Ussher Malhotra Printed by The Colourhouse London SE14 6EB 7 The Fabian Interview 20 The Fabian Essay Designed by SoapBox Communications “We can’t wait for history” How the Tories are Mary Riddell embedding inequality ISSN 1356 1812 Nan Sloane Fabian Society 11 Dartmouth Street 10 The new gender London SW1H 9BN battleground 22 Books Telephone 020 7227 4900 Fax 020 7976 7153 The death of the mainstream [email protected] 15 Women, as ever, will Ed Wallis www.fabians.org.uk keep the big society from General Secretary falling apart 24 The Fabian Society Sunder Katwala Pat Thane Listings Research Research Director Tim Horton Research Fellow QUESTIONS WE’RE ASKING James Gregory Publications Editorial Director Tom Hampson Editorial Manager Ed Wallis Events Events Director Genna Stawski Events Manager James Hallwood CUTS Events Manager and Executive Assistant CUTS YVETTE COOPER POLICY REVIEW BIG SOCIETY Katharina Klebba Could they be fairer Will she be Labour’s Are women angrier What happens Events and Office Assistant for women? first female leader? at the government when the state Katharina Klebba than men? retreats? Fabian office p4 p7 p10 p15 Finance Manager Phil Mutero Local Societies Officer A ONE-DAY FABIAN Deborah Stoate CONFERENCE Membership Officer Giles Wright THE PROGRESSIVE The first conference after Interns the Coalition’s first big Lisa O’Dea electoral test Vicki Dabrowski Chris Gudgin Saturday 14th May 2011 Mark Jenner FIGHT 11am to 4pm, Millbank Byron Orme With a keynote speech from Fabian Women’s Network BACK!! Andy Burnham MP Seema Malhotra [email protected] Tickets cost £5 for Fabian members and £10 for non-members (plus a six month introductory Fabian membership) with additional concessionary rates. To buy a ticket go to www.fabians.org.uk or call us on 020 7227 4903.

Spring 2011 Fabian Review 3 WOMEN AND THE CUTS How the Government has got it wrong on gender equality…

on women than men. Furthermore, the Government’s failure to conduct any gender equality impact assessment of the June 2010 Budget suggests that it didn’t particularly care what the gender impact Howard Reed of the tax and welfare measures was. It is is Director of to be hoped that the Government learns Landman Economics from its mistakes (and the subsequent legal challenge by the Fawcett Society) While it is true that some spending cuts and incorporates gender analysis into would have been implemented even policy design in subsequent budgets. if Labour had won last year’s general election, the cuts did not have to be made The coalition Government’s spending in a way which disadvantaged women cuts hit some households harder than this much. When you compare single others: women with single men, it is clear that the  In cash terms, single parent Government’s record on gender equality households are by far the worst so far is poor and that the particular affected by the cuts, as Figure 1 mix of fiscal consolidation measures shows. There are around ten times introduced have a more adverse impact as many female single parents as

Figure 1: losses from spending cuts up to 2014-15, as a proportion of disposable income, all households, by family type

Single, LONE COUPLE, NO COUPLE, WITH SINGLE COUPLE no children PARENTS CHILDREN CHILDREN PENSIONER PENSIONER o% -2%

-4%

-6%

-8%

-10%

-12% education (schools) -14% education (HE/FE/skills) social care -16% housing transport -18% other service related -20% flat-rate

Source: calculations based on Horton and Reed (2010)

4 Fabian Review Spring 2011 WOMEN AND THE CUTS

Figure 2: losses from spending cuts up to 2014-15, as a proportion of disposable income, single adult households … And WORKING AGE WORKING AGE SINGLE MEN, SINGLE WOMEN, MALE LONE FEMALE LONE MALE SINGLE FEMALE SINGLE NO CHILDREN NO CHILDREN PARENTS PARENTS PENSIONERS PENSIONERS how to o% -2% make it -4% -6% better -8%

-10%

-12%

-14% education (schools) housing -16% education (HE/FE/skills) transport Kitty Ussher social care other service related is the Director of Demos Source: calculations based on Horton and Reed (2010)

there are male single parents in the payments is around £135 per year for We know that the Government did UK, and hence the impact of the single parents working 16 hours or not consider the effect of the June cuts to single parent households falls more per week and claiming tax credits, 2010 Emergency Budget on women mainly on women. This is because around 2.5 per cent in real terms. because the Fawcett Society took households with children use the them to court for not publishing vast majority of publicly funded The Government has argued that its tax a gender impact assessment. That education services, which are facing and welfare reforms ‘make work pay’, this legal action was possible was a cuts of around 10 per cent in real but for single parents the opposite is tribute to the work of the outgoing terms for school level education, the case. Labour Government in getting the and around 30 per cent for higher  For single parents claiming Working Equality Act onto the statute books education, further education and Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, the in time. As a result, George Osborne adult skills funding. average cash gain from working will DID have to consider the effect  The next worst affected groups are fall from £10,390 per year to £10,142 on women of the Comprehensive male and female single pensioners, per year – a reduction of £248, or Spending Review that happened a largely because they make much about 2.5 percent. few months later. Given that this more use of social care than working  The reduction in the incentive to discipline does not appear to have age single people without children, work is largest for families with altered the general direction of and social care is facing particularly more than two children, families policy, however, it seems unlikely to severe cuts over the next five years. using paid childcare, and full-time have been a constraining factor. Figure 2 shows the cuts expressed as workers. The increase of £1,000 in the In fact, the Government’s a proportion of average disposable income tax personal allowance does strategy for achieving the cuts was income for each group: women have not generate a big enough uplift to set early on. The main tax rise was lower average incomes and hence are in-work incomes to compensate for VAT, the fairness of which has been worse affected by the cuts. the cuts to Working Tax Credit and hotly debated but it is certainly the increase in the rate of National more regressive than, say, income Reducing the generosity of the Working Insurance Contributions. or wealth taxes, almost by definition. Tax Credit will have a big impact on The single largest spending cut working single parents, around 90 per References comes from the decision to lower cent of whom are women: Horton, T and Reed, H (2010) “The distributional the rate at which benefits are  On average, single parents claiming impact of the 2010 Spending Review”. Radical automatically up-rated by each year Working Tax Credit and using paid Statistics, Issue 103, pp 113-124. to take account of inflation. They childcare lose over £300 per year in Horton, T and Reed, H (2011) “The Impact of tax have simply decided to use a less childcare support. credit changes on working single parents”. generous measure of inflation when  The average reduction in tax credit London: Gingerbread. doing this, because it is cheaper. By

Spring 2011 Fabian Review 5 definition this will hit the poorest harder, push much of the difficult choices down school clubs and nurseries and any extracting £6bn from the least well-off to local government. Again, this is good form of government-supported services by 2014-15. It is also politically clever, by politics as it removes ministers from the for young people. Also, more time for penalising those with the quietest voices front line of responsibility for unpopular councils to negotiate shorter and flexible in a way that they won’t even notice: the decisions and diffuses potential hours for all their employees – men absolute cash amount of these benefit opposition throughout the country; included – rather than job cuts for all payments will still rise, but people will different choices will be opposed in the lowest skilled. And to pay for this? just find that their money goes less far. different ways in different places. Perhaps counter-intuitively, I would Is this a gender issue? No, because men In total, however, these cuts to completely scrap child benefit, rather and women are equal in their receipt of local services are potentially the most than just tinkering around in an illogical benefits. ONS data shows that 16 per disruptive to women as they have the way at the edges. It’s an out-of-date and cent of men and 15.8 per cent of women greatest potential to disturb the delicate clumsy mechanism. Payments for the are benefit recipients. Although frankly local ecosystem of family support. In additional costs of having children should a deliberate attempt to cut insidiously total around £7bn will be lost from local of course still exist but they should be from the poorest doesn’t need a gender councils by the end of the spending properly means-tested rather than being effect to feel wrong. round, and they are being severely a flat payment per child, and the savings incentivised not to raise council tax to used to increase dramatically both The cuts will really bite on compensate. Every time a youth club demand (through vouchers) and supply closes (the police told me of three (through councils) of affordable childcare jobs and local services closing in my area), a sports facility is and youth provision. This should be a withdrawn (remember free swimming top priority. It wouldn’t stop the cuts but and this is where the real for children?) or an after school club or it would do a lot to ensure that the gender gender impact needs to nursery raises its fees because the council impact really was mitigated. grant is slashed (just ask, it’s happening) be better understood then it becomes that little bit less viable for some parent somewhere to work. The direct cuts to government This is the real gender impact of the programme spending are easier to cuts. In many cases, those affected will analyse by gender and some of this is be those whose position in the labour published in this Fabian Review in the market is already the most precarious: work of Howard Reed. What it certainly people juggling multiple responsibilities shows is that parents are affected by with no time to invest in their skills and government cuts simply because they raise their salaries. Many are precisely are greater users of government services, those front line public sector workers in particular when you add education who will find their jobs under threat in. But the individuals themselves may in any case. They could find their job not really notice these effects; it does not and childcare threatened at the same make a huge difference to their household time, making it much more sensible incomes: these are the irritants of life, for them and their family to withdraw not life-changing events. The schools from the labour market if that choice is and universities are not closing, neither available to them. Maybe that’s exactly are the buses or trains ceasing to run. what this Government wants them to Insofar as young people are discouraged do. In the long run the wasted potential from going to university, that could and opportunities that flow from these be a serious problem but not one with pressures could have a profoundly obvious gender implications. negative effect on women’s equality in The cuts will really bite on jobs the workplace. and local services and this is where the So what could the Government do real gender impact needs to be better to avert this problem? Obviously there understood. The Government decided to should be a cap on the fees of after

6 Fabian Review Spring 2011 THE FABIAN INTERVIEW: YVETTE COOPER

“We can’t wait for history”

Labour will be vindicated on the economy, Yvette Cooper tells Mary Riddell, but the damage the Government is doing to women’s life chances Mary Riddell is a columnist needs to be stopped now. for the Daily Telegraph

Unexpectedly for such a disciplined multi- coalition omitted to conduct on the effect strategy. As she has pointed out, men tasker, Yvette Cooper is a hoarder. of cuts on women was once routine. stood to lose £4.20 a week after the cuts Beneath the window of her Westminster “Exactly. It could be done, and they began in April, while women would see office sit the heaps of old paperwork that [George Osborne’s team] hadn’t done it. an average loss of £8.80 a week, despite she keeps meaning, and failing, to clear Not because it’s not possible, but because earning and owning less. Reductions up. Still, a deep litter filing system has they had chosen not to.” in tax credits, benefits, pensions and its uses. Cooper, initially appointed to attendance allowance would all hit Not long ago, the Shadow Home shadow William Hague on foreign women harder. Secretary stumbled on a parliamentary affairs, also placed herself in the Osborne’s March Budget did question from 1999, asking for a Treasury vanguard of Labour’s domestic offensive nothing to reassure Cooper, who analysis on the impact of Budget by highlighting the unfair burden that noted that many part-time working measures on both men and women. The women would have to bear as a result mothers, as well as pensioners, would

Andrew Winning/PA Archive/Press Association Images document revealed that the analysis the of the Government’s deficit reduction get nothing from the increase in tax

Spring 2011 Fabian Review 7 THE FABIAN INTERVIEW allowance. The coalition has now you balance work and family.” On Her choice of words seems to allow established itself, in her view, as an these issues, Cooper can speak with for the possibility – or, some might infer, anti-family government. “Very much much authority. the likelihood – that she will go for the [so]. I thought initially that this was Some think that, had she decided leadership next time round. “I think maybe just a blind spot, but it’s been to run, she could now be leader of right now we’ve got a leader who is repeated. the Labour Party. Did it always seem doing a good job, and I’m certainly not “I think [there’s] a confluence of clear to her that, as a mother of three going to speculate,” she says. But she two ideologies – the paternalistic Tory small children, she should step aside wouldn’t rule it out? “All I’ll say at the one which said that traditional families as her husband, Ed Balls, campaigned moment is that I’m concentrating on would be supported. The married for the top job, or did she agonise the job I’m doing. We’re not thinking couples’ tax allowance [would] only over her decision? about future leadership but about the help women who stayed at home and leadership we’ve got.” could end up with families with children Some of Gordon Brown’s closest losing out. Some of Iain Duncan Smith’s “I do think we can win allies believed long ago that Balls would universal credit may well just end up again, but we have some day be Chancellor but that his wife being paid to the male breadwinner and would lead the party. “That’s very kind have a disincentive for the second person to recognise that we of them. I think this [her current job] is to go out to work.” the right place to be.” But that traditionalist instinct is, still have a tremendous She does not, however, seek to she says, “not the dominant strain. At amount of work to make dispel the aura of toughness discerned the same time, you’ve got the George by those who see her as a power-in- Osborne/Nick Clegg, Liberal Tory that possible.” waiting. One columnist described her approach which says the family is as “Iron Yvette”, a label that provokes entirely private and the public sector “I did think about it, because what sounds like delighted laughter. should have nothing to do with it unless people raised it with me. Ed took the “Or steely. Pick your metal.” Her female there’s a real crisis, because that will view that I should stand if I wanted colleagues are, in some cases, more create dependence.” to. He was very clear about that, and directly flattering. One backbencher told As evidence, she cites a measure in that he would only stand if I didn’t me not long ago that “Yvette walks on the Welfare Reform Bill to incentivise want to. But if you’ve got kids and water.” Cooper seems pleased by this separated parents using the Child you’re working out how to balance compliment. “But I end up splashing Support Agency to make private work and family life, you always sometimes,” she says. arrangements on child maintenance. have to be quite ruthless and hard- In Labour politics, women are Those who cannot do so will, under headed about the things you can do still more prone to sink without the proposals, have to pay £100 (or a and the things you can’t. You have to trace. Both Eds, Miliband and Balls, staged £50 fee for those on benefit), be realistic about what’s possible and were part of the charmed circle of plus a sizeable ’tax‘ on any payment what isn’t. (mostly male) special advisers who agreed. “The consequence is that “That’s why, as a minister, I would quickly became MPs and ministers, women are suddenly going to find not do evening dinners. It was just a leapfrogging female counterparts as they have less help for their children, step too far – not possible. You have well as sitting MPs. What can be done and if they want someone to help to take decisions like that. I probably to change that bias? them, they’ll have to pay.” still work a lot more hours than a lot She suggests the Labour Party is Women’s chances, she argues, have of parents would choose to, but I can making osmotic progress. “We actually been flung into reverse. “I can’t think balance that. We depend a lot on my have a situation where about half the of any example in the last century that mum, but there are things I know are shadow cabinet are women. We changed involved a greater turning back of the just not right, right now. Running for the rules to [make it] 30 per cent, but the clock. After the First World War the the leadership, with all the time [the way people voted went further… The nursery provision that allowed women candidates] had to spend away from image I have is that every generation of to work closed down. Other than that, home [was one].” women stands on the shoulders of the it is hard to think of any comparable Balls’s campaign commitments left women who have gone before. It’s only period in history. I think they [the her not only running the home but also, because of the battles Harriet [Harman] coalition] think about it as just money as the non-cooking partner, “living on and other women fought that it was in people’s pockets. For women, it’s ready meals.” Did she feel resentful? possible for me to become a minister and about really fundamental choices on “No. [Working mothers] have to have take maternity leave.” how they live their lives.” the confidence about making the right There are, however, limits to Unaffordable childcare, the threat decisions at different times. For Ed it Cooper’s sisterly inclinations. When to maternity leave and disappearing was a different decision. We work in she first took over the Home Office child tax credits will, she says, have “a very different ways, and he is much portfolio from Balls in the reshuffle massive impact on your whole identity, better at compartmentalising things following Alan Johnson’s resignation, your life and your decisions about how than I am.” almost her first job was to respond

8 Fabian Review Spring 2011 THE FABIAN INTERVIEW to Theresa May’s announcement of record. Her remarks were interpreted right to have new anti-social behaviour the Government review of counter- as a slap down to Khan. Is that how she powers and right to do a lot of the things terrorism measures. The Commons intended them to sound? we did on crime.” encounter between two women “Sadiq’s [Guardian] article was Whatever Labour’s other flaws, she attracted almost as much notice around exactly right. You’ve got to be tough warns against “falling into the prissy Westminster as the contemporaneous on crime, and we’ve got to maintain caricature that Nick Clegg is trying furore over two male Sky Sports that approach. It’s the right thing to to create. There are areas where we presenters’ complaints that a female do.” But Khan also said in his speech didn’t do the right thing, but equally linesman was unlikely to understand that Labour should have done “much what they [the coalition] are doing, the offside rule. better” in tackling reoffending and by trying to knock or get rid of the Do she and May get on? “Despite “should have been bolder in putting Human Rights Act and electing police the fact that we were both elected at the forward progressive arguments.” The commissioners, is actually removing same time, I wouldn’t say I knew her aim should be, he added, to get prison the traditional checks and balances in well.” When I ask the same question numbers down. our unwritten constitution.” She and later about William Hague, her former While Cooper concedes that Khan, she says, will be working jointly opposite number, she is much more objective is desirable, crime levels on constitutional issues. enthusiastic. “Very well, actually. He permitting, she appears to widen Although Cooper will be backing a was very good at providing briefings the division, saying: “I think you’ve Yes vote on AV in the May referendum, and very open about things he was got to look at the whole strategy. I her endorsement of the campaign being concerned about and that might become don’t think you can pick out [different led by Ed Miliband is conspicuously a problem later. I think his judgment areas] because overall … we did the tepid. “I think actually the most on individual country issues was often right thing. The overall impact was important thing is local elections … and pretty good.” to bring down crime by 43 per cent… council services. It [AV] is not an area in Although she criticises Hague’s You can have a debate on where you which I’ve ever had a strong interest and realist foreign policy and the bungled go from here, but I don’t think we involvement. I think it would be better response to early events of the Arab should say we got it wrong in terms of than the current system, but no system spring, her chillier response is reserved our overall approach. I don’t [believe] is perfect. The more significant issue for May’s handling of police cuts. Does we did.” affecting most people at the moment is Cooper agree with the findings of the In other words, she and Khan still what’s happening in terms of the impact Windsor report on pay and conditions, disagree? “Well, we’ve talked a lot on their services.” which signalled a curb on bonuses for about it. I think we would agree on the Does she think the coalition will senior officers? importance on bringing down crime… survive for a full term? “If Nick Clegg “The problem is you have a series There will be strong agreement between was prepared to do such a complete of reviews happening at the same time Sadiq and me about that.” reversal on student tuition fees, it’s as a 20 per cent cut in the police On other parts of the record, hard to see what would be too big for budget. The scale of cuts is a serious Cooper is more critical. Labour, she him to swallow as the price of staying problem. For Theresa May to pick a says “had not done enough on women in power. I find it hard to see what fight with the police, which is the way caring for [elderly] parents, aunts and issue would be big enough to make the she’s been handling this, is the wrong uncles… We’d made progress around Lib Dems walk away. Also, they don’t approach. Of course you should debate childcare; the next stage was to make want to go back to their electorate any reforms, but ultimately it should be progress on social care and helping time soon. about the police and government older women.” “On the other hand, you see these working together. Though eager to stress Labour’s huge tensions… But it [a collapse of the “What was really destructive is successes, she also lists the “things coalition] doesn’t look the most likely Theresa May’s speech a week before the we didn’t get right.” She cites the scenario at the moment.” That leaves the Windsor report, pre-empting a report attempts to introduce 90 days and 42 question of whether Labour can regain she hadn’t seen… It creates a climate of days detention without charge of terror power. “I do think we can win again, but picking a fight rather than constructive suspects. “We shouldn’t have done that. we have to recognise that we still have reforms, and I think that’s the wrong We got ourselves into the wrong place. a tremendous amount of work to make approach when over 12,000 police We should have done the transitional that possible.” Ultimately, she thinks officers’ jobs are being lost.” arrangements around immigration Labour’s handling of the economy will More surprisingly, Cooper has [from] Eastern Europe. You can look be vindicated. also found herself at variance with her back on what should have happened on “That is the story that history will own close colleague, Sadiq Khan, the bank regulations, not just in Britain but tell. But we can’t wait for history. We Shadow Justice Secretary and one of around the world.” have to make those arguments now.” Ed Miliband’s closest allies. After Khan On the high watermarks of office, Labour’s as-yet unwritten history allows made a speech deploring some aspects she returns to crime. “I think the crime for the possibility that, after some future of Labour’s crime strategy, Cooper said record is a hugely important one. It was victory for the centre-left, Yvette Cooper Labour should be “proud” of its crime right to increase the number of police, will lead her party and her country.

Spring 2011 Fabian Review 9 THE NEW GENDER BATTLEGROUND

ender equality haS Make women become something of Ga hidden social justice the story issue. When in power, Labour of Labour’s Unlike much of Europe and the made tangible advances, both in policy review US, the women’s vote in Britain had terms of policy and in improving tended towards the right. Had the female representation in politics. suffragettes failed and women never won the vote, Labour would have won Operating alongside the brash every election since the Second World confidence of 90s ‘new feminism’, Deborah Mattinson War. New Labour’s triumph in 1997 this incremental progress slightly is a pollster and co- founder of BritainThinks was its appeal to women voters. Later, obscured the deep ways gender as times got tough, the women’s vote continues to impact on our society propped Labour up – without women, and politics. as I warned then, 2005 would have But this is changing. The One gloomy winter morning in resulted in a hung parliament. By 2010, invisibility of women during the 1989, Patricia Hewitt – who was Neil this prophecy had come true. last general election campaign Kinnock’s policy chief at the time Almost a year into the coalition and the coalition’s spending cuts – and I gave a presentation on ‘the Government, the parties’ share of have reminded everybody how gender gap’ to a specially convened the vote shows no significant gender far there is still to go. Throughout shadow cabinet away day. The work gap. What we do see, however, is of the policy review teams was about that women are much more likely this magazine, you can see that to start. Our audience was all men, to be ‘don’t knows’ – at 20 per cent, women are still unequal – and with the exception of Jo Richardson, almost twice as undecided as men. In some of the things that can be the shadow women’s minister. uncertain times, both economically done to change that. Some flicked distractedly through and politically, women reserve Here we suggest seven their newspapers as we spoke. Our judgment on what is right or wrong campaigns and issues that appeal was to self-interest. Our for the country. Focus groups confirm can build on this moment and thesis then is as true today: Labour that, right now, the jury is out. mobilise support for gender must attract a greater share of the Yet women’s attitudes remain equality – small things that could women’s vote to win. ‘Labour leaning’. They are less make a big difference.

10 Fabian Review Spring 2011 We need THE NEW GENDER BATTLEGROUND more men in the childcare But, if children are well cared for, workforce. So what can we do about workforce does this matter? Yes it does. Wholly it? First, the Government should raise feminised professions tend to remain the bar of qualifications in childcare, poorly paid and undervalued. If we which will help drive up pay for Rebecca Asher is the author of Shattered: want to advance the prospects of this demanding, vital work. There is Modern Motherhood and the Illusion childcare workers we need to bring cultural and campaigning pressure of Equality. She was the Deputy Editor more men in. A quarter of British men that we can bring to bear too. Parents of Woman’s Hour and an Executive say that they would consider working should agitate for more men and vote Producer at BBC Radio 4 in this field but that they currently feel with their feet for those nurseries My son’s excluded from it. Moreover, female and children’s centres that employ nursery has one male domination of childcare reinforces them. Fathers – and grandfathers – member of staff. It is lucky to have traditional gender roles in the private should volunteer in these settings. him: less than 3 per cent of the UK’s sphere. And schools should encourage young childcare workforce are men. At home, But, most importantly, this men to consider caring professions most toddlers are primarily cared for situation especially matters to those alongside other more traditional by their mothers. So from the earliest children who are deprived of male options. age we are taught that looking after involvement in their lives. There’s We mustn’t be defeatist. Only a children is women’s work. now strong evidence to show that couple of decades ago male nurses in You don’t find men in childcare fathers’ close involvement is of the UK were freakish figures of fun. for the same reasons you don’t psychological and educational benefit Now they make up about 14 per cent them in the other ’five Cs‘ (caring, to children. Changing the make up of of the nursing workforce. cashiering, catering, cleaning and the childcare workforce would help Government should act but we clerical work): it’s badly paid, has low show fathers – and mothers – the must play our part too: securing a status and, perhaps more than any positive role that men can play. greater role for men in the early lives other occupation, is seen as something There is substantial public support of our children would bring huge that men just do not do. to have more men in the early years benefits to us all.

likely than men to think ‘the burden couples should have the same rights Unions from Britain’s economic troubles is as heterosexual couples’. being fairly shared’. They feel more It follows, perhaps, that women MUST LISTEN financially vulnerable (+16 per cent) are cooler than men towards the TO WOMEN and more concerned about their Conservative Party. They ‘trust’ the (and their children’s) financial future Conservatives less. Focus groups MEMBERS (+15 per cent). My own agency – reveal an underlying anxiety that the BritainThinks – has conducted a new Conservatives are uncaring. Women’s John Hannett is General survey of the 71 per cent who define hopes for the coalition have been Secretary of Usdaw themselves as middle class which shattered by Lib Dem compliance with reveals six distinctive groups divided unpopular cuts. They feel let down by by wealth, lifestyle and attitudes. Nick Clegg. Women were more likely to make So, women who abandoned On Budget Day this year, hundreds of up the two most financially stretched: Labour in 2010 are again up for Usdaw reps and activists across the UK Bargain Hunters and Squeezed grabs – but not yet moving across organised campaign activity in their Strugglers. The latter is the only group in significant enough numbers. workplaces, highlighting changes to most likely to vote Labour. Following that shadow cabinet benefits and tax credits for working Women are less likely to agree presentation in 1989, much of families. Leaflets, posters, surveys, that ‘People expect government to do the policy development and pledge cards, balloons and stickers all too much for them’ and more likely communication strategy that helped raise awareness of the cuts. to agree that ‘I will get more back followed had women firmly in mind. Two thirds of our members, the from public services than I pay in The result was a transformation in majority of whom are women, rely taxes’. They are also less likely than women’s voting patterns. Labour on in-work benefits to make ends men to agree that ‘if someone is not would be wise to apply the same meet. And over 30 per cent rely on ill and has been unemployed for more focus in the coming months, placing the union to find out what they can than a year they’re just not trying’ women at the centre of its decision- claim. Usdaw’s ‘Claim It’ campaign – and more likely to agree that ‘gay making. It can’t win without them. which ran from 2008-2010 – improved take-up of tax credits, the Sure Start Maternity Grant, and ©the Rex Health Features in

Spring 2011 Fabian Review 11 THE NEW GENDER BATTLEGROUND

Pregnancy Grant. Twenty four per cent pay settlement. Usdaw’s agenda is shift. And all too often car parks are of our members found out about the now broader than ever and workplace badly lit and workers have to park well Health in Pregnancy Grant as a result of campaigning on issues such as in-work away from the store entrance. Regional our campaign. benefits and tax credits for families get-togethers for women members on is as much a part of our core activity journeys to work have brought more Women have been at the as pay bargaining and representation. women into union activity. forefront of shaping our And it is in large part down to our Our campaigns energise women women members that this change has because they speak to their immediate campaigning agenda for some taken place. concerns. The issues we take up years now Women have been at the forefront demonstrate that we understand of shaping our campaigning agenda the pressures women are under and But campaigning on Budget Day for some years now. Six years ago we have something to offer them. Our was not just about telling members they launched our national Supporting campaigns are a route into trade union were losing out. We wanted to make Parents and Carers campaign because activity. For the first time in our history the union more visible, building the women told us that work life balance more than half of Usdaw reps and confidence of Usdaw reps and letting mattered just as much as pay. Usdaw’s activists are women. members know we are trying to win Women Workers and Safe Journeys Unions can be a powerful voice them a better deal. to Work campaign responds to the for women workers. But this will only This is all a far cry from the days difficulties women face in getting to happen if unions listen to women when for most members, their only and from work in the 24/7 economy. members, get the issues right and ensure contact with their trade union was Cuts to bus services mean women in that women are active and involved, at being asked to vote on the annual particular can’t get home after their all levels of the trade union movement.

Don’t go back to will almost certainly be a man. female representation was not only Furthermore, although Scottish Labour good for the Scottish Parliament, but business as continued to return high numbers of good for society – good for families, usual female MSPs in 2003 and 2007 (28 and carers and for working mums. 23 respectively – both years greater 3. We wrongly assumed that we had than the total number of women elected shifted the political consensus. for the Conservatives, SNP and Liberal We believed that once women Democrats combined), it’s looking like were in the Scottish Parliament, Margaret Curran is we may fall way short of our 50-50 it would fast become a political MP for Glasgow East target, as a number of women MSPs norm and therefore women would stand down or move on to pastures be easily selected. Indeed although new. In total, six women are standing there has been some progress in down at this election – myself included putting women forward for the In 1999, Scottish Labour used the – and it is highly unlikely that these selection processes in Scotland, opportunity of a new parliament to MSPs will be replaced by other women. too often the mechanisms used to place the importance of equal gender There are three clear reasons why deliver equal representation have representation at the very heart of female representation in Scotland finds been taken for granted or have Scottish democracy. We were duly itself under threat of decline: been hastily abandoned when rewarded with a real breakthrough in faced with even minor opposition. female representation when the Labour 1. We failed to institutionalise female Group in the Scottish Parliament was representation in Scotland. We If we are not careful, we will go exactly 50-50. In fact, with the total did not do enough to emphasise back to the old stereotypes of political number of female MSPs at around 33 the importance of a parliament representation. Labour’s achievement per cent, we were up there with the with a high percentage of female of 50-50 in the Scottish Parliament was Scandinavian parliaments. It was the representatives. As a result, our an enormous step forward for female hallmark of a modern and outward- achievements were fragile and when representation and there is little doubt looking parliament, reflecting the the challenges came to reinstate the that it had a substantial impact on the population we sought to represent and status quo, we were left vulnerable political landscape in Scotland. We addressing that fundamental political to attack. must learn these lessons and act now to injustice: women’s lack of power. 2. The presence of female MSPs stop any progress slipping through our Yet despite this progress, after the became an end in itself. We failed to fingers and politics returning to business elections this May the First Minister communicate to the public that strong as usual.

12 Fabian Review Spring 2011 THE NEW GENDER BATTLEGROUND

But why isn’t more being made centre-stage. More public appearances, SHOW of Labour’s women? We know they more targeted media strategies, more AND TELL are there, beavering away in their opportunities for women to see, not just committees and their constituencies, guess, what these MPs do. And the more doing their good deeds away from they see Labour women at their best – the spotlight. During the last election ordinary women doing extraordinary campaign, they were almost invisible things – the more they will believe that Jude Rogers is an arts journalist who writes – the white men centre stage, women they can get there, too. regularly for The Guardian, Observer, The Word and the New Statesman following meekly, giving up their screen time for a party leader’s spouse. During the Labour leadership contest, Diane Abbott’s candidacy was The 22-year-old working class girl from often framed by insiders as a South London, number one in the pop concession to gender, rather than charts on both sides of the Atlantic, the start of something new and a speaking out, loud and proud, for chance to bring female faces to women in pop. The 57-year-old daughter the forefront. of a civil servant from Liverpool, Labour has so many hardworking, revolutionising one of Britain’s biggest inspirational women, from potential arts centres, and running the Women Of party leaders like Harriet Harman The World Festival to promote female and Yvette Cooper, to strong artists. The school feminism group from newcomers like Stella Creasy and East London on Radio 4. The ordinary Emma Reynolds. If we follow these people criticising female stereotypes on women through local – or social – Women film and TV in national newspapers. networks, we know their hard like Adele and Look around you. Strong women are work. If we don’t, like most dominating pop culture. Some of them British voters, it is easy to Jude Kelly don’t use are well known, like pop star Adele and miss what they do. the shorthand of soulless South Bank Director Jude Kelly, women We live, for good or ill, glamour to engage the bending the rules at the top of their in a multimedia culture. public – they use game. Some of them have been picked Visibility means everything, up in the public eye more recently, like but it doesn’t have to mean friendliness, openness, the feminism society at the Mulberry cheap tricks. Women like Adele words and hard-won School For Girls in Tower Hamlets, and Jude Kelly don’t use the wisdom one of the poorest, most multicultural shorthand of soulless glamour boroughs in the country. Then there are to engage the public – they use the media consumers begging for more friendliness, openness, words and representative, more visible female role hard-won wisdom. Thankfully, these models in The Observer, being listened are qualities every female Labour MP to at last, being given room to breathe. has – and now Labour must put them

Fight the modern Europe is one of the top destinations for the purpose of sexual exploitation. for human trafficking and so the rising Victims are mainly from Eastern slavery number of victims in the UK is no European countries, but also come surprise. Thousands of women and from as far afield as East Asia, South children are trafficked into our country America and Africa. every year. They often come on the Prosecution rates are pitifully promise of jobs as waitresses, nannies low and pro-active policing to root EMMA REYNOLDS is MP for Wolverhampton North East or cleaners. But on their arrival they out trafficking – such as brothel are imprisoned and forced into slave raids – is being scaled down as labour or prostitution. The Home police cuts bite. Office estimates that 2600 women Despite the scale of the were trafficked into Britain in 2009 problem, the Government dragged

Spring 2011 Fabian Review 13 its feet on opting into the new European Directive to combat Reverse this human trafficking. After strong campaigning on this issue – inside Government’s and outside of the House of unfair pension age will now be 65 in 2018 Commons – they have finally agreed and rise to 66 by 2020, reneging on to do so. The draft law affords greater pension the Government’s promises to those protection to victims and makes it changes approaching retirement. easier for our authorities to bring to The basic state pension is £102.15 justice British nationals operating per week, so the loss of income for in other European countries. It is these women will be more than a no-brainer that cross border crime Rachel Reeves is MP for Leeds West £10,000, and for those in receipt of demands cross border action, yet Pension Credit, the figure is closer to David Cameron is more interested £15,000. in keeping his party’s Eurosceptics It can be hard enough planning The Turner Commission onside. for your retirement, and for most recommended that men and women of us it’s important to have some need fifteen years to adjust to Cameron’s lack of action certainty about when we’ll start changes in their state pension age. on human trafficking is receiving our pensions. But if you The independent Pensions Policy are a woman born after April 1953, Institute agree that women may damaging and inexcusable you will have begun your career need more than ten years notice to expecting to retire at 60, and not adjust. The state pension age should As Yvette Cooper has highlighted, only will you have had to adapt be equalised, but seven years is not trafficking will inevitably spike in to the increase in the State Pension enough time to prepare. the run-up to the 2012 Olympics. Age announced soon after Labour International sporting events have first got into power, but you will We need to support the long been a magnet for traffickers now have to change your plans many women who will be and pimps, making the need for again as this Government increases action all the more urgent. it further and more quickly. disproportionally affected by Meanwhile the International And women in their 50s aren’t these changes Development Secretary, Andrew financially resilient enough to deal Mitchell, has refused to commit with this change. Women turning It is worth noting that no man to core funding for the new UN 57 this spring, for example, have will have to wait more than an Women’s Agency – heightening average pension savings of just extra year to get his pension. The uncertainty over its future role. £9,100 and 40 per cent of them average 57-year-old man has pension And in a bizarre intervention, the don’t have any pension savings at savings of £52,800. They have not Government has blocked a Council all. Most will have started work had to adjust their plans by five years of Europe agreement asserting that at a time when part-time workers already, and have benefited from violence against women constitutes a had no rights to access occupational better pay and conditions throughout breach of human rights. The yawning pension schemes. Many of them their working careers. chasm between this Government’s have taken career breaks, brought Instead of these unfair changes I words and its deeds is undermining up children, and been paid lower would support an acceleration of the its moral authority both at home wages than their male peers. The timetable for both men and women and abroad. Government is now asking them to from 65 to 66 between 2020 and 2022. Two hundred years ago, Britain wait up to two years extra before This would affect 1.2 million fewer became the first country to outlaw receiving their state pension – with people than under the current new slavery. In stark contrast, Cameron’s only seven years to plan. plans, affect an equal number of lack of action on human trafficking Labour agrees the pension age men and women, and would give a is damaging and inexcusable. His needs to keep rising, and had already decade’s notice to everyone affected. refusal to work with our European legislated to increase it – equalising This would still deliver £20bn of partners to tackle this modern form it for men and women by 2020 and savings for the Government, but no of slavery is just another example of legislating to increase both to 66 by one would have an increase in their the lacklustre foreign policy being 2026, 67 by 2036 and 68 by 2046. state pension age of more than a year. pursued by this Government. Proud The Coalition Agreement said that We need to support the many of our history, Britain should be the timetable needed to be revisited, women who will be disproportionally at the forefront of multilateral but promised the pension age would affected by these changes. It’s not too action to tackle it, not sniping from not start to rise to 66 sooner than late to get the Government to change the sidelines. 2020 for women. But the women’s their minds.

14 Fabian Review Spring 2011 GENDER AND THE BIG SOCIETY

still a 28.5 per cent gap among doctors. voluntary help to neighbours, friends, Women, as The gap is even wider among lower- the community, regularly performed by paid workers. But the progress is real 65 per cent of over 65s in 2011, according ever, will keep and it is difficult to imagine this change to women’s voluntary organisation without state intervention. Resistance WRVS. Also in 2009-10, 85 per cent of to gender equality in the spheres of the big society business and politics, and comparisons The first state welfare with countries where the state has from falling introduced positive discrimination measures in the early like Norway, suggest that left to itself twentieth century society changes slowly. apart But the state did not act happened because spontaneously. The most important driver for state action has been voluntary voluntary organisations action by those people who are most demanded them affected by inequality – and by their supporters. Women campaigned for people ”thought their community was equal pay from at least the 1930s and cohesive… their local area was a place Pat Thane persuaded the Conservatives to grant where people of different backgrounds is Research Professor in it in the public sector in 1955. Women got on well together” – up from 80 per Contemporary History, in the Labour movement and feminist cent in 2003. This does not sound like Kings College London groups like the Fawcett Society fought mass discontent with ‘broken Britain’, on through the 1960s: the 1970 Act was that ‘multiculturalism’ has failed, or not just down to the Dagenham women that community action is dead. But the The Government’s primary charge against strikers. Similar campaigns fuelled survey has now been stopped, another Labour is that it undervalued society and progress in other equality areas such casualty of the cuts. It’s a pity that we overvalued the state whilst in office. But as race. Society played a big role in won’t be able to measure the impact Labour must not let this rhetoric blind influencing the state. of government policy on volunteering them to how much vital volunteering Labour must insist that state and and people’s contentment with their already goes on –­ or obscure the good society are not opposed to each other but communities, and what becomes of the that’s delivered by the state. are closely complementary. This is obvious ‘Big Society’ we already have. This is particularly important in social welfare. The first state welfare It is likely to contract. All too for women, who do much of the measures in the early twentieth century predictably, women will suffer volunteering and have gained so much – such as those designed to reduce infant disproportionately from cuts to from the state’s promotion of gender and maternal deaths – happened because benefits and services such as refuges equality over the last half-century. voluntary organisations demanded for victims of domestic violence. Britain still has a long way to go, but them. They identified urgent problems, Meanwhile, the Government has the gender gap is closer than it was 40 proposed solutions and implemented shocked other Europeans by objecting years ago – largely due to state action, them where possible. But they knew to domestic violence being described much of it by Labour. But now there voluntary action could not cope with in the ‘Convention on Preventing and are real dangers of slipping backwards, major problems nationally so they urged Combating Violence against Women’ as as unemployment and cuts to statutory the state to provide and they worked a “violation of human rights”, preferring and voluntary services hit women in in co-operation with it. This approach ”constitutes a serious obstacle to particular, while women also fill the void was strongly supported by the founders women’s enjoyment of human rights”. left as the state retreats from areas such of the modern welfare state, including They are proposing that even this does as care for children, the disabled and William Beveridge, who was himself a not apply during armed conflict, despite older people. passionate advocate of voluntary action the abuse of women in so many recent We mustn’t forget the dramatic complementing the state. conflicts. With exquisite sensitivity, this progress that was made by the Equal Pay So we have long had a big and news was released on the centenary of Act in 1970 and the Sex Discrimination active society – and in fact we can International Women’s Day. Act in 1975. The impact of these has measure exactly how big. Since 2001 the Women will work to fill the gaps in been clear: the gap between the median Citizenship Survey has monitored the devastated services. More grandmothers hourly earnings of women and men number of people who volunteer and will give up time to care for grandchildren working full-time was 46 per cent in people’s attitudes to their communities. so that their daughters can work, or 1970 and is now 10.2 per cent. This It shows that from 2001 to 2009-10, 40 per for frail or disabled neighbours without average disguises wide differences: the cent of adults had volunteered with an other support. They will keep the ‘Big gap is 42.4 per cent among City brokers organisation at least once in the previous Society’ going, with no thanks to, or for example; and whilst there is now 12 months, 25 per cent at least once a probably from, David Cameron. Labour parity among physiotherapists, there is month. And that’s excluding ‘informal’ must speak up for them.

Spring 2011 Fabian Review 15 After the cuts, is feminism changing?

In the 90s a new generation sought to make feminism more issues of ‘choice’ and ‘empowerment’. But as the cuts kick mainstream, by focusing on incremental improvements to in, are we seeing a new, more radical wave of feminism everyday equality, rather than the more fundamental overhaul emerge? We asked Ellie Levenson and Laurie Penny, two of power structures demanded by earlier generations. As a feminist friends of different stripes, to discuss the impact political project, this became about getting more women of the New Labour years and whether feminism is getting into parliament and the boardroom; culturally it focused on angry again under the coalition.

1997 and all that Thatcher up as a feminist icon, the mere gender, labour and power work in this presence of a woman at the top was really country, and that’s what’s been missing. —Laurie Penny: Part of what afflicted important. We’re the first generation to —EL: Can I ask you a question then? both the women’s movement and have grown up knowing that you get What I’m interested to know is what the movements for social justice and female prime minsters – and knowing would you like to be done? Because equality was the idea that just because that you can get bad ones as well. we both approach feminism in a we had a Labour government in power, —LP: The flip-side of that, though, is very different way and they are not and had ‘Blair’s Babes,’ then there was that in the celebrations of having some necessarily at odds because they focus on nothing to fight for. I was ten in 1997 women at the top, we neglect all the different bits of feminism. I’m interested and I remember being told that it was women at the bottom. The glass ceiling in the choices we make in our everyday all fine and all fixed; it was all ‘ladettes’, is an important issue but not the only life but of course if you’re poor you have the Spice Girls and Girl Power. But it issue. And while people focus on the far fewer choices anyway. What would didn’t take much to suddenly realise glass ceiling, there are lots more women you like to be done to stop that? how much there was left to do. standing in the basement, which is —LP: One thing has to be childcare, ­­—Ellie Levenson: I was 18 when Labour rapidly filling up with water. The pay because female unpaid labour is still the came to power and maybe it was the difference between men and women in massive elephant in the room. Whilst a result of coming of age under a Labour part-time labour is much greater than huge number of people in this country Government that enabled me to think in top jobs in the City. There has been a are unemployed, a huge amount of about feminism a bit more freely. Some of perception, almost mirroring Labour’s necessary labour is done for free. the big battles – like having visible female economic policy, that by focusing on —EL: My socialist instinct – which is MP’s – had been won and that allowed us improving conditions for people at the caring for the vulnerable in society – isn’t to focus on some other issues… top of the rung, there will be trickle- so much that I want the unpaid labour —LP:­ …Was there a sense of down effects which will improve to be paid, it’s that I want it to be shared disappointment then? everyone’s lives. I’m not sure it works more equitably. So if men occupied more —EL: Well not for me. At the time the like that though. I’m not sure you can of the caring roles then I wouldn’t care ‘Blair’s Babes’ picture seemed wonderful, have ‘trickle-down’ feminism. that it wasn’t paid. something like a hundred women in —EL: I think it’s important to get it right —LP: I disagree because I think one of the parliament and that was great. It was at the top as well as the bottom, because ways capitalist society makes people do only in retrospect that I realised how though changing the pay gap lower stuff that’s not valued is by not paying. patronising that picture was. down obviously has real consequences, It’s a question of how you locate caring, —LP: There must have been huge it’s also about winning a perception child-care, labour duties and housework excitement after going from having very battle. within the spectrum of human work. I’m few female MP’s prior to ’97, to having —LP: Absolutely. But I’m not sure a socialist but my socialism comes from significantly more afterwards. feminism can operate only in the sphere my feminism, not the other way around. —EL: Except you were born under of aspiration. It doesn’t acknowledge —EL: That’s interesting because my Thatcher. I’m not the first to argue what will actually change conditions for feminism comes from my socialism. this but although I would never hold everyone: a complete reworking of how Almost everything I believe comes first

16 Fabian Review Spring 2011 FEMINISM NOW from my socialism, from a sense of the determination is an absolute baseline of travesty that many on the left seemed to unfairness at people being born with equality. For me it’s perfectly okay to say be annoyed that we were in power and unequal opportunities. that you would never have an abortion are now relishing being in opposition. and that you don’t necessarily like it I’d rather have diluted demands being Angry feminism and fluffy feminism when other people do, but I can’t consider seen to by a Labour government than the any person who says that they consider moral high-ground of opposition. —LP: I think that feminism doesn’t abortion morally wrong to be a feminist. —LP: So how does that apply to actually have to be either soft and cuddly —EL: I think what you’re actually feminism? Would you say you’d rather and trying to appeal to a wider audience, trying to do here is tell people how to have diluted demands and sideline the or else angry. But the problem comes think. I’m pro-choice when it comes to more radical ones? when people see ‘fluffy feminism’ as the abortion but I understand that some —EL: Yes, because my brand of feminism full extent of feminism. people aren’t. So I wouldn’t want to is quite diluted but also realistic and is —EL: Feminists who don’t like me would exclude all of those people from being grounded in my every day life. My every say that I’m one of those cuddly feminists, a feminist. That’s like saying to be a day life is making small-scale decisions presenting a more palatable view of feminist, here are some absolute beliefs and choices about what to wear, what feminism. But that’s exactly what I wanted you have to have, and if you don’t have jobs to take, what caring roles to take, to do. Although you do have to be angry them you’re not a feminist. who empties the dustbins. They’re not to force change, I think the problem in the the massive issues like ‘am I allowed last 20 to 30 years is that people thought Feminism under the coalition to leave the house without a man’s feminists were only angry. I didn’t want permission’ or ‘do I have economic that perception to put people off. My —EL: I think there are lot of people independence,’ or ‘do I have control of idea of feminism is about choice, and it who think that because we have a my own body?’ really doesn’t matter what choice you Conservative government feminism is —LP: I can appreciate the argument make, so long as you’re making a real doomed. But I don’t think that’s the case. which says if you ask for too much then choice. What I wanted to show is that I don’t think all feminists are on the left, you won’t get it, but feminism from its you can be a feminist but make what therefore just because we’ve got a more history has been most successful when are seen as non-feminist choices such as rightwing government it’s not correct it has asked for most. In a way the staying at home, glamming up when you just to think feminism is doomed. I don’t anti-cuts movements is fostering a form go out, or even being anti-abortion. It’s think the Conservative government of resistance that feminism has been not about dumbing feminism down, it’s wants to take a step back and make us all lacking. It’s about a wider reappraisal about making feminism about individual Stepford Wives. But I think economically of women’s working rights and their choices. it is going to be disastrous and the cuts status and certainly I would say that —LP: I think choice isn’t enough. So will hit the poorest and women more there is an awareness of gender even often women are told that their lives are than men. in parts of the movement which aren’t great because they can choose whatever —LP: I think we’re seeing a lot of women explicitly about gender. they want to do, but in effect there is a from across the social spectrum becoming —EL: I hadn’t thought I was going on the limited range of options and they are radicalised by the Tory cuts and by their TUC demo as a feminist, but as a Labour punished if they don’t make the right attacks on women. I was at an anti-cuts Party member and a member of society. choices. rally the other day and I saw a ‘Single I suppose feminism does come into that —EL: So you think we’re given a choice, Mums for Social Justice’ group who told but in a way, feminism is everything but only insofar as we can choose how me the banners they were holding were and it’s nothing. It’s everything because we want to be oppressed? the same ones they made in the eighties being a man or a woman influences —LP: Absolutely. If you have a baby, and they had decided to bring them out everything we do, and it’s nothing you can choose to go back to work almost again. I hope a resurgence of feminism has because hopefully one day it won’t. So immediately but there will be people in given people like these more confidence I’m going as a socialist, not a feminist, the office who look at you funny, or to self-organise and speak out. though you can’t stop being a feminist. people in your family who wonder why —EL: The point about the banners not —LP: I would say I’m going as both; I you’re not taking more time off work to coming out since the eighties is that, well, don’t divide the two. look after your baby. On the other hand Labour wasn’t in government then. It’s you can choose to give up your career, but different when you’re in government, eventually, especially as a single parent, you have to be realistic and I think Ellie Levenson is a journalist and you would be punished financially and one of the problems that we saw under author of The Noughtie Girl’s people would claim being unemployed Labour was that many on the left were Guide to Feminism. Her new book is disempowering and setting a negative disgruntled that we had to dilute some 50 Campaigns to Shout About is example for your child. And I disagree of our demands in order to achieve published by Oneworld in May. with your idea that you can make any others. Now back in opposition, yes we choice you like and still be a feminist. unfurl the banners again, but being in The abortion question is quite simple opposition is a different state of existence Laurie Penny is a feminist blogger and for me because a woman’s right to self- to being in government. I think it’s a real columnist for the New Statesman

Spring 2011 Fabian Review 17 PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION Why Lib Dem women face Seema Malhotra Sunder Katwala is Director of the is General Secretary of electoral Fabian Women’s the Fabian Society meltdown Network SINCE 1918 4719 MEN AND 355 Election 2015: why Lib Dem WOMEN HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO women face the risk of THE HOUSE OF COMMONS being wiped out Though only 7 of the 57 Lib Dem THE CURRENT HOUSE MPs are women, they hold five of the party’s dozen most vulnerable seats.

49 F 7 F 1 Lorely Burt (Solihull) 0.3%, 82 F 175 votes ALL MPS 32% 16% 12% 2 Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset) FEMALE FEMALE FEMALE 0.6%, 269 votes 176 M 258 M 50 M 3 Norwich South 0.7% 4 Bradford East 0.9% 5 Tessa Munt (Wells), 1.4%, 800 votes 1 F 6 St Austell 2.8% 36 F 7= Sarah Teather (Brent South) CLASS OF 2010 48% 24% 10% 3.0%, 1345 votes 35 M FEMALE 32 F FEMALE FEMALE 7= Somerton 3.0% 9 St Ives 3.7% 102 M 9 M 10 Manchester West 4.1% 11 Burnley 4.3% LABOUR CONSERVATIVE LIB DEM 12 Jo Swinson, 4.6% East Dunfermline, 2184 votes

Other Lib Dem women MPs The majorities of all seven The Lib Dems have Lynne Featherstone women Lib Dem MPs put failed to keep up with (Hornsey and Wood Green), together (17,224 votes) is 12.5%, 7875 votes the other parties only just greater than that Jenny Willott The Lib Dem benches today (Cardiff Central), 12.7%, – 7 women out of 57 MPs – are of Nick Clegg in Sheffield 4576 votes proportionately no less male Hallam (15,284) dominated as in 1992 (two women out of twenty MPs) or 1935 (one woman out of ten MPs). LIB DEM WOMEN LIB DEM MEN

TODAY 1992 1935 Number of MPs 7 50 7 2 1 Average majority 2318 6214 57 20 10 12 most vulnerable seats 5 7 20 safest seats 0 20

18 Fabian Review Spring 2011 PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION

The marginalisation of women in the 2010 election campaign, the Lib Dem women MPs are amongst the party’s dozen most total absence of women from the coalition negotiations, and vulnerable seats. They are proportionately more electorally the low numbers of women in the new cabinet has meant that vulnerable than their male counterparts. The party’s twenty every party is now stressing their desire to speed up progress safest seats are all held by men. This long-standing pattern towards gender equality in politics. is not unique to this Parliament. The causes are complex: It sounds like the race to the 50-50 party has finally begun. chance, informal hierarchies of power, the sociology of Yet with boundary reforms and seat reductions, the risk is the political recruitment and electoral geography. Professional race will be lost before the next election, with all three parties women Lib Dems have tended to fight southern marginals; losing momentum and Lib Dem women MPs facing political there is only one woman among 11 Scots Lib Dem MPs, annihilation. again holding the most vulnerable seat. Labour has the strongest record and currently 32 per cent of the Parliamentary Labour Party are women. Prompted by the Lead for Women grass roots campaign, Ed Miliband If the current polls were even half declared his commitment to a 50-50 party of equal voice and power at every level. With 16 per cent of current Conservative right, not a single Lib Dem woman MP MPs being women, their highest proportion ever, David would survive Cameron can point to more progress than his predecessors but acknowledges the need to do more. The Lib Dems, lagging behind in third place, hope to catch Lib Dem party strategists would be over the moon if up. However, their election strategy for gender was disastrous they held four out of five seats at the next election. If an early – numbers of women MPs dropped from nine to seven. They election were held (under current boundaries) that would also have no ethnic minority MPs. Having previously rejected mean a parliamentary party of 43 men and two women, a drop positive action, including in 1998 when Baroness Williams from 13 per cent to 4.5 per cent of the party’s MPs – half their called for an end to the Commons ‘Old Boys’ Network’ presence in the 1930s. But if the current polls were even half and warned “we will not get more women involved just by right, not a single Lib Dem woman MP would survive. providing more training and education”, this year the party’s The problem could get even worse if any Lib Dem women Spring Conference passed an a ‘priority candidates’ list – an lose out in the boundaries scramble. The leadership will need A list. This will do no harm and perhaps some good. But the to work out how to pragmatically protect them and perhaps debate showed the party has not appreciated how great a risk encourage another retirement or two. Or might the party there is that Lib Dem women will face meltdown at the next even, exceptionally, consider dropping its opposition to all election, or how the coalition’s own reforms have cut off their women shortlists for the two or three constituencies where it real chance to make any progress by 2015. will replace a sitting MP? More likely, it may seek to achieve a New Fabian Society/Fabian Women’s Network research similar result by ensuring there are strong women in the field, shows that the Lib Dems would need to take urgent steps to and informal pressure highlighting the gender gap problem. avoid a collapse in gender balance, which would leave the But such tinkering will merely limit the damage unless party’s Commons benches in 2015 even more male-dominated the Lib Dems respond to new boundaries by reopening every than the Liberal benches of the 1930s. selection, with the aim that women candidates should contest a quarter of the party’s 20 most defendable seats, rather than The meltdown threat arises from a toxic triple cocktail: none of them. This might mean Sir Ming Campbell or Charles 1. Firstly, political unpopularity. Having lost more than half Kennedy swapping their safe seats with a colleague to defend a of their support since the general election, the Lib Dems are marginal. If this seems too difficult or painful, the party should preparing a defensive campaign, hoping to regain support admit it’s willing to run the risk of only electing men in 2015. and defend Lib Dem held seats. Even selecting many more The smaller Commons will also slow down Labour and women candidates to take on Tory and Labour MPs is Tory progress, though both parties hope to gain seats. Labour unlikely to return as many MPs next time around. should adopt an all women shortlist in any winnable seat being 2. Secondly, coalition populism. The Lib Dems have defended by a woman MP from another party, within the inadvertently scored an own goal on gender by supporting current strategy to select women in 50 per cent of all winnable a smaller House of Commons. Shrinking the House to 600 seats. The message would be that voting Labour could not will see the smallest new intake in any post-war election, reduce the number of women in parliament. No other party slowing down progress since new intakes have a better could claim this. gender balance than the whole House. Typically, around Some may worry about the impact on voter choice. This 60 to 80 MPs stand down at the end of a Parliament while seems a weak argument. There were already 11 constituencies up to 590 defend their seats. This time, many retirees will be in 2010 where all three major parties selected a woman. replaced not by new hopefuls but MPs seeking a new berth And who spoke up about voter choice, or even noticed, the after constituency mergers. The Lib Dems would have 267 constituencies where all three major party candidates expected to select six or seven new candidates to replace were men? Political equality is a pre-requisite for, not just a retiring MPs; this will probably now fall to two or three – consequence of, social equality. The gender challenge at the even if all current seats were deemed winnable. next election will test the commitment of the three parties to 3. Thirdly, the legacy of past selection patterns. Five of the fairness in an unprecedented way.

Spring 2011 Fabian Review 19 THE FABIAN ESSAY

decision-making is about more than just parliament and local elected office: up and down the country there are organisations How the Tories ranging from the largest NHS Trusts to the smallest school governing body which deliver public policy and spend public money at local level. Amongst those dealing with economic development are embedding are the Regional Development Agencies. The 1997 Labour Government set up business-led Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) capable of attracting investment and inequality supporting growth in the varied economies of the regions. One of the first actions of the incoming 2010 coalition Government has been to abolish them and replace them with Across government, and often unreported, business-led Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPS) with much the same remit. There is still debate about how effective the changes are being made that will remove RDAs were, and there is both a lack of clarity about how women from economic decision-making the new arrangements will work and a feeling that not much thought is going into it – last November Vince Cable roles, reveals Nan Sloane. Labour must himself described his own department’s actions as ‘Maoist respond by putting women at the heart of and chaotic’. Nevertheless, the changes are going ahead: the RDAs will cease to exist in 2012 and 31 new LEPs have been its economic rethink. approved and have recruited, or are recruiting, their boards. Labour legislation requires equality impact assessments to be carried out for changes or cessations of service, but this seems not to apply to changes in decision-makers. Consequently, no equality impact assessment has been done on this major change in the country’s economic structures. Nor, regrettably, Nan Sloane does Labour appear to have called for one, despite the fact is director of the that the changes will have far-reaching consequences, not Centre for Women just for economic decision-making, but for both the diversity and Democracy of economic engagement as a whole and the development of future prosperity. The nine RDA boards are made up of people drawn from the public, private and voluntary sectors. 27 per cent of RDA board members are women, and there are no all-male boards. Five have representation from BME communities, though only There seems little doubt that we are seeing a sustained assault on one (the East Midlands) includes a BME woman. Yorkshire the prosperity, prospects and independence of women in this Forward – generally considered one of the more successful country. The possibility that this is an unintended consequence RDAs – has 36 per cent female Board membership, and One of government policy is irrelevant; study after study has shown North East, also generally viewed positively, has 33 per cent. that women will suffer both economically and socially, and it Comparable figures for the new LEPs are not yet available, seems likely that we are entering a new phase of women’s long since many are still recruiting board members. But it is fight for equal rights. already becoming clear that diversity will not be amongst their Hitherto, much of the debate has focussed on the cuts strong points. Just 13 per cent of members of the boards in themselves, and very little on the other changes coming out the five partnerships which have already been approved (or of government. But the coalition’s attitude to gender equality ‘recognised’ in the curious terminology adopted by BIS) are is woven into the detailed fabric of its legislation. Take the women. None of the boards reaches a fifth female membership. Localism Bill, for instance, which proposes wide changes to the One – Stoke & Staffordshire – has no women on it at all. BME way local decision-making works. It is telling that only three communities seem also to be largely absent. Many other LEPs of its measures seem to have been subjected to an assessment have shadow boards which are similarly unrepresentative – on on their impact on inequality and, even then, women feature the Birmingham & Solihull shadow board, for instance, there as a group disadvantaged more as part of other considerations are three women but nobody from the Muslim community, than in their own right. The equality impact assessment on whilst in Sheffield the shadow board is all-male. Sadly, these neighbourhood planning correctly identifies ‘those whose examples are typical of what is happening. responsibilities in caring for young children prevent them Recruitment procedures for LEP boards seem to have from attending public meetings held in the evening’ as being no diversity requirements, nor is there any indication that excluded from the planning system, but does this as part of the applications from under-represented groups would be section on ‘People from black and minority ethnic communities’. welcome. And part of the trouble is that board membership is Changes are being made across government which being drawn from precisely those groups in which women are are insidiously removing women from senior roles. Public least likely to be found.

20 Fabian Review Spring 2011 FABIAN ESSAY

LEP boards are made up of members from both the public The Bank of England is a notoriously woman-lite zone – and the private sectors, with the latter outnumbering the all of the Governors have been male, only one of the eleven former. It might be expected that the public sector would be current directors is a woman, and although there are two most likely to supply the women members, but in fact this female executive directors, they are responsible for human is not the case. Only 14 per cent of local authority leaders are resources and communications. The Bank of England is not women (14.5 per cent of Labour leaders), only two elected unique in this respect – all seven of the German Bundesbank’s executive mayors and 12 per cent of vice chancellors of English directors are male, for instance. universities are female, although the figure is much better for college principals (29 per cent of sixth form college principals are women, for instance). Overall the picture is not good and In the UK women find it harder to nor do other parts of the public sector fare any better. start businesses, harder to get finance for them, harder to win public sector To compound this, the private sector is also massively under- strength when it comes to women in senior roles. All parties contracts and harder to survive have expressed concern about this, and Lord Davies’ recent report found that the situation for women in boardrooms is so But in the United States 50 per cent of the Federal Reserve serious (just 12.5 per cent of the boards of FTSE100 companies) Board are women, and the boards of the Banque de France that he described the UK as being “in the last chance corral”. and the Russian Central Bank both have 27 per cent female But whilst things are better further down the business food membership. Then there’s the World Bank, at the most senior chain, they are still poor: according to the Federation of Small levels of which women are present in numbers in financial Businesses (FSB) women make up only 29 per cent of their and economic roles. The vice president overseeing the bank’s sector, although they contribute £130 billion to the economy. operations in Africa, for instance, is responsible for expenditure And it is at this point that the absence of women from decision- of over $12 billion, mostly spent on project lending and grants. making roles and the needs of the economic recovery coincide. Africa now has huge numbers of women-run small businesses, Across the world, women’s economic engagement is seen as well as a growing tradition of female finance ministers. as one of the key drivers of growth. World Bank managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, says that investment in women is smart economics, the UN believes that women hold the What, then, is to be done in the UK? And what can Labour key to economic growth, and the United States are pouring do to ensure that, when it returns to government, women resources into supporting women’s businesses. Globally there are brought back from the sidelines to which they are being are 200 million women entrepreneurs worldwide, and in many consigned? developing countries women’s incomes are growing faster To begin with, Labour needs to develop, through its than men’s. policy review, an active, cohesive and vocal policy on The Federation of Small Businesses wants the UK to learn women and the economy, and this needs to be voiced by from the US and many EU countries and ”encourage female senior men in the party as well as women. Women in the entrepreneurship and increase female-owned businesses if it is shadow cabinet should not be left to talk about ‘women’ to really grow the economy”. Like many others, they recognise whilst their male colleagues talk about ‘families’. If women that women’s economic activity creates both jobs and wealth, are key to economic growth they should be central to and that it should not be ignored or under-resourced. Labour’s economic policy, and that should be a matter of Yet in the UK women find it harder to start businesses, pragmatism, not political correctness. harder to get finance for them, harder to win public sector Secondly, Labour should challenge the diversity of the new contracts and harder to survive. These are precisely the kinds structures at every opportunity. Local Labour MPs and council of problems both the outgoing RDAs and the incoming LEPs leaders should be asking questions, not just about what the should be addressing if local economies are to thrive, yet the new LEPs will do, but who they are, and there should be a Government merely says that it is ”looking into” the issue of clear statement of the need to reflect the contribution women female entrepreneurship, and new bodies are less rather than make to the British economy. Labour should also look at how more female. As a result, the quality of their decision-making it can get more women into local leadership roles; the increased will suffer, and local economic growth will be more sluggish number of women in the shadow cabinet is very welcome, than it actually needs to be. but the message needs to filter further down. Labour women This is not just rhetoric. Lord Davies in his report on need to lead on finance in local authorities, and there need women on boards cited evidence that strong growth is “most to be more Labour women local authority leaders (there are likely to occur where there is a higher proportion of women in currently just eight in England). senior management teams.” He pointed out that ”this is not Integrating women into Labour’s economic thinking will just a numbers game. It is about the richness of the board as set the party clearly apart from the coalition, which not only a whole,” and went on to give a robust case for why women attacks the interests of women, but also ignores what much Rex features of should be in senior roles. This case is as applicable to strategic the rest of the world already sees as economic sense. Women decision-making as it is to any other, yet in the UK it seems to belong at the heart of any plan for growth; it’s up to Labour to be ignored even at the most senior levels of the economy. put them there.

Spring 2011 Fabian Review 21 BOOKS

The pervasiveness of these trends The death of the becomes apparent reading James Harkin’s fascinating Niche. Through a series of vignettes about the rise and mainstream fall of the “big beasts” of mass-market capitalism – Gap, Woolworths, General Motors – he charts the death of the An unexpected effect of globalisation and the internet mainstream, “in which anyone who tries to be all things to everyone ends up as has been an increasingly targeted marketplace and nothing to anyone”. It’s a frightening consumers who value quality over quantity, singularity and liberating new world out there: to survive you need to “narrow your focus over mass-production. Labour’s own ‘niche’ is its to make sure you have something that values, says Ed Wallis. people can’t easily find anywhere else.” Take coffee for example. Harkin tells the story of Maxwell House, once the dominant player in the domestic How much is enough? Whether American coffee market. The coffee was accumulating votes, seeking profits or always a blend of two types of bean, selling records, the late 20th century one better tasting but difficult to grow mandated a strict maxim: more is more. and hence more expensive, one more Ed Wallis Indeed for social democrats, growth has bitter but resilient and thus cheaper. Fatima Hassan is Editorial Manager been seen not only as desirable and Slowly but surely, the Maxwell House is Events Manager at at the Fabian potentially infinite, but as the answer blend shaved margins by increasing the theSociety Fabian Society to a difficult political challenge: how to proportion of the cheaper bean. By 2007 divide the cake more equally. Simply this race to the bottom was complete and bake a bigger cake and everyone’s slice Maxwell House was purely made up of gets bigger. the inferior tasting coffee. Consumers Niche: Why For big business, ‘maximisation’ has voted with their feet, heading to new the Market No been the name of the game: cut costs to coffee houses like Starbucks, where Longer Favours the quick and shift workforces overseas you’d pay more money but drink coffee the Mainstream to increase profit margins; and pitch that actually tasted nice, and in pleasant James Harkin products firmly in the middle of road to surroundings to boot. More and more appeal to the widest possible consumer it’s investment in quality and creativity Little, Brown base. But bubbles burst, as we’ve seen that pays dividends, rather than aiming £20 over the last few years; there’s no such for the lowest common denominator. thing as ‘too big to fail’. Now a different The US cable TV network HBO doubled model is also proving successful – their programme development budget, ‘optimisation’ – where businesses take gave writers full creative control – and into account questions of sustainability redefined the way we watch television and social justice, and deliver healthy whilst their profits went through the profits without necessarily seeking to be roof. the biggest or deliver maximum feasible The role of the internet in driving dividends to shareholders. Enough is these changes cannot be overstated. enough. Not only has it allowed us to become The music industry has been battling incredibly skilled in finding the things these challenges for a long time now, we want – “information predators” ever since the internet put a match to Harkin calls us – but it allows us to find the comfortable business model music each other and band together in groups companies had used for most of the of like-minded individuals. As our last century and made content freely economic and political life fragments, available online. The giants of the people make sense of it by developing industry were fatally slow to adapt to subcultures online. this radically different market place. This also has more worrisome But smaller, independent labels have implications, as one study reported in been quietly on an upward trajectory Niche shows: in the 1976 presidential by focussing on quality of music and election 26.8 per cent of people lived in product, and treating people as fans “landslide counties” where the winning rather than consumers. candidate won by over 20 percentage

22 Fabian Review Spring 2011 BOOKS points; by 2004 it was 48.3 per cent. We have less truck with those who don’t agree with us and are even prepared to move house to avoid them. Fabian Quiz Strategists have attempted to capitalise on this by targeting ever- smaller demographic groups. The ‘We are more alike than we are unalike. apotheosis came in 2008, when the guru But the way we are unalike matters. of political ‘micro-targeting’ Mark Penn To be male in Saudi Arabia, Jewish presented Hillary Clinton as the ultimate in Israel or white in Europe confers mainstream candidate, slicing and dicing certain powers and privileges that the electorate and making each small those with other identities do not have. group a distinctive offer. Barack Obama’s In other words identity can represent campaign tried something else, famously using the internet to put supporters in a material fact in itself.’ Gary Younge touch with each other and allowing demonstrates, in his urgent and brilliantly them to build their own network of illuminating book Who Are We – And enthusiasm around the candidate. The Should It Matter in the 21st Century?, a campaign had a distinct message that surprising and enlightening exposition supporters passed around of their own of the constitutive aspects of our identity, accord. “Instead of heading for the producing a devastating critique of the middle ground or going after groups of way our society really works. voters one at a time, Obama’s team won by cultivating a modest but energetic clump of enthusiasts,” says Harkin. Penguin has kindly given us five copies of the new The internet has changed the way we edition of this book to give away – to win one, answer think and act, responsible for levelling the following question: some of our most iconic brands. There’s no guarantee it won’t do the same for our political parties. To gain a hearing in Of the 23 members of the coalition cabinet, 22 are white. this topsy turvy world, Harkin suggests How many are millionaires? you must “grow a place of your own”. There are surely lessons in this for the Please email your answers and your address to review@fabian-society. Labour Party at a time of renewal. org.uk or send a postcard to: Fabian Society, Fabian Quiz, 11 New Labour’s big tent left it short Dartmouth Street, London. SW1H 9BN. Answers must be received no of proselytisers, and the party started to later than Friday 8 July 2011 fall into the same trap as the big beasts of the market place: becoming all things to everyone but nothing to anyone. It had wide, mainstream appeal, but the 2010 election saw the party stranded in the middle of the road. It was New Labour’s strategy to define itself against the party’s own supporters, which worked well at the time to prove to a sceptical electorate that the party had changed. But even the recent past is an increasingly foreign country; Labour’s challenge is different now. There are diminishing returns for the ‘catch-all party’ that tries to hoover up votes in the centre-ground, a strategy which has made it hard to cut through the popular chorus of ‘politicians are all the same’. To do so Labour needs to find its niche. There is now a hard- headed and calculating rationale for re- engaging with values and giving people something to believe in.

Spring 2011 Fabian Review 23 FABIAN SOCIETY Listings

A note from Local Societies Officer, Deborah Stoate

The Eastern Regional Conference in March had entertaining and it exemplifies the ebb and flow of local societies. In 1902 and informative speakers and was relatively well attended. its membership had increased to 10. The Annual Report of But it was also interesting in other ways. Many of the 1904 notes sadly that the Cambridge Society “seems to be in attendees were former Labour Party members who had somewhat low water, though it has held some meetings”, but resigned for various reasons and had since rejoined and things picked up: by 1907 its membership was 48. The peak of realised that the Fabian Society was the best place to go for its success was in 1911 when it had 100 members, 136 associates political debate. This is being replicated in local societies “held large public meetings and acquired clubrooms”. I’m throughout Britain – Fabian meetings are bristling with re- afraid to say that it was then downhill all the way, until it had joined party members. disappeared in 1915. The other very good thing about the day was the formation So congratulations to the 2011 Cambridge members for of a new Cambridge Fabian Society. Cambridge University their enthusiasm in starting a society and good luck. You have Fabian Society was originally formed in 1900 with 9 members, ‘large public meetings’ and your own clubroom to aspire to!

BEXLEY ‘Free Schools’ GLASGOW ISLINGTON Regular meetings. Contact 20 April. AGM at 7.30 – a chance to Now holding regular meetings. For details of all meetings contact Alan Scutt on 0208 304 0413 or air your views. Contact Martin Hutchinson on Conor McGinn on mcginn@gmail. [email protected] Regular meetings at 7.30 in the Cole [email protected] com Room, 11 Dartmouth Street, London BIRMINGHAM SW1A 9BN. Details from Ian Leslie GLOUCESTER LEEDS All meetings at 7.00 in the on 01227 265570 or 07973 681451 Regular meetings at TGWU, 1 New Society forming. If you would Birmingham and Midland Institute, Pullman Court, Great Western like to become a member of this new Margaret Street, Birmingham. CHISWICK & WEST LONDON Rd, Gloucester. Details from Roy Local Society, please contact Bryony Details from Claire Spencer on 31 March. Duncan Bowie on Ansley on 01452 713094 email King on bryonyvictoriaking@ [email protected] ‘Planning for Housing in London – [email protected] hotmail.co.uk Past, Present and Future’ BOURNEMOUTH & DISTRICT Details from Monty Bogard on GREENWICH LEICESTER 25 March. Lord Knight of Weymouth 0208 994 1780, email mb014fl362@ New Society forming. If you are New Society forming. Please All meetings at The Friends Meeting blueyonder.co.uk interested in becoming a member contact Annie Moelwyn-Hughes on House, Wharncliffe Rd, Boscombe, of this local Society, please contact [email protected] Bournemouth at 7.30. COLCHESTER Chris Kirby on ccakirby@hotmail. Contact Ian Taylor on 01202 396634 Details from John Wood on 01206 co.uk MANCHESTER for details or [email protected] 212100 or [email protected] Details from Graham Whitham Or 01206 212100 GRIMSBY on 079176 44435 email BRADFORD Regular meetings. Details [email protected] New Group forming. If anyone is DARTFORD & GRAVESHAM from Maureen Freeman on and a blog at http://gtrmancfabians. interested in joining, please contact Regular meetings at 8.00 in the [email protected] blogspot.com Celia Waller on celiawaller@ Ship, Green Street Green Rd at 8.00. blueyonder.co.uk Details from Deborah Stoate on HARROW MARCHES 0207 227 4904 email debstoate@ 22 March. Lawrie Nerva on New Society formed in BRIGHTON & HOVE hotmail.com ‘Aneurin Bevan and the NHS’. 7.45 Shrewsbury area. Details on www. 25 March. Cllr Gill Mitchell, Shadow at 53 Sherington Ave, Hatch End MarchesFabians.org.uk or contact Leader of Brighton and Hove City DERBY Details from June Solomon on Kay Thornton on Secretary@ Council on. ‘Local Government Regular monthly meetings. 0208 428 2623. Fabians from other marchesfabians.org.uk Campaign’. 8.00 Details from Rosemary Key on areas where there are no local Details of all meetings from Maire 01332 573169 Fabian Societies are very welcome MIDDLESBOROUGH McQueeney on 01273 607910 email to join us. New Society hoping to get [email protected] DONCASTER AND DISTRICT established. Please contact Andrew New Society forming, for details and HAVERING Maloney on 07757 952784 or email BRISTOL information contact Kevin Rodgers 6 April. Val Shawcross of the GLA [email protected] for New Society formed. Contact on 07962 019168 email k.t.rodgers@ on ‘Transport Issues in Greater details Ges Rosenberg for details on gmail.com London’ [email protected] Details of all meetings from David NEWHAM EAST LOTHIAN Marshall email david.c.marshall. For details of this and all other CANTERBURY 24 March. ‘The AV Vote – Yes or [email protected] tel 01708 441189 meetings Ellie Robinson on Please contact Ian Leslie on No?’ Debate between Cllr Andrew [email protected] 01227 265570 or 07973 681 451 or Burns and Tom Harris MP. 7.30 HERTFORDSHIRE email [email protected] Prestonpans Labour Club, Kirk Regular meetings. Details from NORTHUMBRIA AREA Street, Prestonpans. Preceded by Robin Cherney at [email protected] For details and booking contact Pat CARDIFF AND THE VALE AGM at 7.00 Hobson at [email protected] Details of all meetings from Details of this and all other meetings HORNSEY and WOOD GREEN Jonathan Wynne Evans on 02920 from Noel Foy on 01620 824386 email Inaugural meeting of Hornsey and NORTHAMPTON AREA 594 065 or wynneevans@phonecoop. [email protected] Wood Green Local Fabian Society. New Society forming. If you are coop Thursday 7 April, 7.00pm at 28 interested in becoming a member of FINCHLEY Middle Lane, Crouch End, N8 8PL this new society, please contact Dave CENTRAL LONDON Enquiries to Mike Walsh on Contact David Chaplin – chaplind@ Brede on [email protected] 16 March. Katherine Birbalsingh on 07980 602122 gmail.com

24 Fabian Review Spring 2011 FABIAN SOCIETY

NORWICH Trust on @Equality and the Work of Anyone interested in helping to re- the Trust’ form Norwich Fabian Society, please 13 May. Adrian Prandle, Chair of GENERAL SECRETARY contact Andreas Paterson andreas@ Young Fabians on ‘An Education headswitch.co.uk Policy for All’ For details of this and other Sunder Katwala is standing down as General Secretary PETERBOROUGH meetings contact John Champneys after seven and a half years in the post. The Fabian Society 25 March. Lord Desai on ‘The on 01892 523429 Disadvantaged – Must They Fail?’ thanks Sunder for all of his work in the role and wishes him Meetings at 8.00 at the Ramada TYNEMOUTH every success in his new venture. The Society is currently Hotel, Thorpe Meadows, Monthly supper meetings, Peterborough. details from Brian Flood on recruiting for the role. Please see www.fabians.org.uk for Details from Brian Keegan on 01733 0191 258 3949 details of how to apply. 265769, email brian@briankeegan. demon.co.uk WARWICKSHIRE New Society forming. Details from Ben PORTSMOUTH Ferrett on [email protected] Regular monthly meetings, details from June Clarkson on 02392 874293 WEST DURHAM email [email protected] The West Durham Fabian Society welcomes new members from all READING & DISTRICT areas of the North East not served 24 March. Debate on AV with by other Fabian Societies. It has a speakers from Labour Yes and No regular programme of speakers from campaigns the public, community and voluntary For details of all meetings, contact sectors. It meets normally on the Tony Skuse on 0118 978 5829 email last Saturday of alternate months at [email protected] the Joiners Arms, Hunwick between 12.15 and 2.00pm – light lunch £2.00 SHEFFIELD Contact the Secretary Cllr Professor Details and information from Rob Alan Townsend, 62A Low Murray on 0114 255 8341or email Willington, Crook, Durham DL15 [email protected] OBG, tel, 01388 746479 email alan. [email protected] SOUTH EAST LONDON 30 March. Barry Gardiner MP on WEST YORKSHIRE ‘How Sustainable is the Labour Party?’ Details from Jo Coles on Jocoles@ Regular meetings; contact Duncan yahoo.com Bowie on 020 8693 2709 or email [email protected] WIMBLEDON New Society forming. Please contact SOUTHAMPTON AREA Andy Ray on 07944 545161or For details of venues and all [email protected] if you meetings, contact Eliot Horn at eliot. are interested. [email protected] WIRRAL SOUTH TYNESIDE If anyone is interested in helping For information about this Society to form a new Local Society in the please contact Paul Freeman on Wirral area, please contact Alan 0191 5367 633 or at freemanpsmb@ Milne at [email protected]. It’s been an active few months for the Fabian Women’s blueyonder.co.uk co.uk or 0151 632 6283 Network. We were out in force at the Labour Movement’s SUFFOLK YORK International Women’s Day event in London on 5th 9 June. Jessica Asato on’New Regular meetings on 3rd or March 2011. The event was the biggest event for Labour’s Legacy’ 4th Fridays at 7.45 at Jacob’s women in the history of our Labour movement and was Regular monthly meetings, details Well, Off Miklegate, York. coordinated by a network of women from the Fabian from John Cook on 01473 255131, Details from Steve Burton on email [email protected] [email protected] Women’s Network, Labour Party, Labour Women’s Network (FWN), Lead4women, Co-operative movement SURREY Date for your Diary and trade unions. Keynote speakers included Leader of Regular meetings at Guildford the Labour Party Ed Miliband (the only man allowed!), Cathedral Education Centre. SOUTH Western REGIONAL Details from Maureen Swage on CONFERENCE Harriet Harman MP, Emily Thornberry MP and Kate 01252 733481 or maureen.swage@ Saturday 11June. ‘Next Left – Creating Green MP, with a great contribution from London btinternet.com an Alternative’ Tudor Grange Hotel, Assembly member Jennette Arnold. The event was a Bournemouth. Details tba. chance to learn more about the history of women in the TONBRIDGE and TUNBRIDGE WELLS Contact Deborah Stoate on 0207 227 8 April. Bill Kerry of the Equality 4904 or [email protected] Labour movement, ask questions, contribute ideas and meet like minded women from across the country.

We also launched the new FWN mentoring scheme which is open to Fabian women of all ages interested in Fabian Fortune Fund moving forward in political or public life (see our website for more details) and our new Women Changing Politics WinnerS: t-shirts and mugs. These are still available for purchase at Mick Cornish £100 £9.99 for T-shirts and £5 for a mug.

Neil Dolby £100 Fabian women were also out in force on the TUC march – where we marched in the women’s section Half the income from the Fabian Fortune Fund with thousands of women from across the country. For goes to support our research programme. Forms more information about the FWN or to be added to our available from Giles Wright, giles.wright@fabian- mailing list, visit our website www.fabianwomen.co.uk or email us at [email protected]. society.org.uk

Spring 2011 Fabian Review 25