If Andy Burnham is crowned leader of the Labour Party, as many expect, he will be the 21st man to lead the party in its 120-year-history- and it will remain the only major UK political party never to have had a permanent woman leader, with the exception of Reform.
It is a fact leaving many Labour MPs – both men and women – in despair.
There are many visible women at the top of Labour. Angela Rayner is mentioned in every discussion about potential leaders, Lucy Powell is the deputy leader, three of the four great offices of state are held by women – Rachel Reeves in the Treasury, Yvette Cooper at the foreign office and Shabana Mahmood as Home Secretary.
Shorts
But for a party that prides itself on progressivism, equality, and social justice, many believe that not have a had a woman in command it is a damning record.
