South Dorset Labour Party’s Parliamentary candidate, Simon Bowkett, has expressed surprise at a recent article written by Richard Drax in which the local MP appeared critical of the recent cabinet reshuffle – which he dubbed the “Night of the Petticoats” – calling the promotion of nine women MPs “tokenism”, and suggesting the promotions were “just because they are women and a quota needs to be filled by 2015.”
Simon Bowkett told us, “Mr Drax is no stranger when it comes to controversy when discussing women’s issues – last year he suggested that the Sun’s page 3 ‘provides jobs for the girls’ – but this seems a very strange commentary on his own government’s front bench.”
Writing in a blog on his website, Mr Drax’s criticism was focused on nine women promoted to ministerial positions that had – like the South Dorset MP – been first elected in 2010. He suggested that those promoted would be “wiser” to get used to the “shallow end” of politics before “venturing out of your depth.”
Simon Bowkett said, “To question an MP on their ability or inexperience is one thing, but Mr Drax has reserved all his criticism only for his female colleagues. I am sure female voters will notice that he makes no mention of any other newly-promoted minister, like Sajid Javid, who was also only first elected in 2010 – but is a man.”
“Richard Drax’s controversial comments – like those he made last year about the No More Page 3 campaign – have again been the subject of national press coverage. Many of us are trying hard to present and promote Dorset as a modern, inclusive place to live and do business, and we could do without an MP whose comments regularly bring embarrassment, and frankly belong to another era.
Richard Drax’s original blog appears at https://www.richarddrax.com/news/westminster-weymouth-column-4
The story was reported nationally on 21 July 2014 via the Daily Telegraph at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10980313/David-Camerons-reshuffle-was-night-of-the-petticoats-Tory-MP-says.html
Richard Drax’s comments on Page 3 were reported widely, and were the subject of a question raised at Prime Minister’s Questions in December 2013. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/12/11/richard-drax-page-3_n_4425466.html
