Any Questions

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Last night I went to Ashford for Any Questions. It was, unusually, an all women panel: Margaret Beckett, Laurie Penny, myself and Anne McElvoy, public policy editor of the Economist

As ever – because you never know what questions might come up – there is a lot of ground to cover in preparation. Of course – you can make an educated guess as to what those questions might be.

My guess was: Libya, (because it is the key news issue), AV (because Margaret Beckett is Chair of the ‘No to AV’ campaign), the protests over cuts and the policing thereof (because Laurie Penny, a young journalist, had written an outspoken article in support of direct action) and something on women (because of my position as Minister for Equalities ). On this occasion – I got it right. The last question – which is always the ‘surprise’ was about what we had learned from our mothers that had stood us all in good stead.

I won’t rehearse all the arguments – but it is repeated today on Radio 4 at lunchtime – for anyone who is interested.

0 thoughts on “Any Questions”

  2. “something on women (because of my position as Minister for Equalities )”

    So equality is something that only effect women and ignores equality of other groups, including men? Charming.

  3. I found it a good proramme. All women panels usually change the feel of the programme, though coverage of marches/ riots broke any consensus
    Fine on the equalities issue, Paul. Men not neglected!

  4. “The last question – which is always the ‘surprise’ was about what we had learned from our mothers that had stood us all in good stead.”

    Yet you support homosexuals raising children, thus denying them a mother – or a father.

    Can’t you see that this “equality” agenda is primarily about weakening the family to allow greater governmental control in the private lives of us all?

    Are you truly unaware of the effect these changes are having or are you a willing participant in the destruction of our once civilised and strong UK society?

  5. Any Questions debated the electoral system and the proportion of women in parliament without linking the two issues.

    Please consider the views of Enid Lakeman OBE, who stood for parliament, campaigned for women rights and for electoral reform all her life and lived here in Tunbridge Wells.

    Changing the electoral system can make it easier for women and other under-represented candidates to be elected.

    Please see the report of the New Zealand Royal Commission.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Commission_on_the_Electoral_System

  6. Wow I hadn’t noticed that Paul. What a great post.

    Lynne finally admits that she believes equalities=women.

  7. Somehow, I find it revealing that equality is only for women and sexual minorities.

    So, would you mind being more honest? Shouldn’t your political platform include misandry and female supremacy, and injustice towards men?

  9. “Women are generally treated worse in society. Equality requires correcting that injustice. Therefore Lynne is right on this issue.”

    It seems Dave is confusing feminist agitprop with reality.

    We have a multiparty political system which excessively caters to women’s whims in order to win the precious ‘female vote.’ Therefore the gender make-up of parliament is irrelevant as they all obediently sing from the same gynocentric hymnsheet.

    An academic curriculum which is engineered to ensure female success, whilst undermining the aspirations of males at every opportunity. A seventy per-cent+ female admission into some universities (and growing).

    The NHS which spends many times more on women’s health than men’s (not including pre and postnatal care) and a massive disparity in disease funding and research, even though male cancer deaths are comparable to women’s.

    A longevity gap where men live 6 years less than women, which is the direct result of underfunding in men’s health, combined with a pension gap whereby men are having to work 5 years longer than women (subsidizing them) in dangerous and laborious jobs (men make up 95% of workplace deaths).

    A judicial system which has been corrupted by ideologues, where, from theft to murder, women are punished far less severely – if at all – for the same crime committed by a man. This is the most blatant form of apartheid!

    Divorce and child custody cases which are found almost exclusively in favour of women, regardless of the individual circumstances.

    Whilst there’s a vast infrastructure of domestic violence protections for women, there’s virtually nothing for men. Even though the British Crime Survey shows women are responsible for over 40% of DV. In fact, if a male victim rings the police he’s more likely to be laughed at or arrested himself, rather than the violent woman.

    ‘Equality’ is a buzzword for ‘white heterosexual men need not apply.’

    I could go on……But seriously, earth to Dave, what planet/parallel universe are you living on?