Like many, I am glued to political developments in the U.S. Also, like many, I read Kamala Harris’ The truths we hold as soon as it was published in 2019. I was underwhelmed by it, and that seemed to be supported by the invisibility of Harris as VP throughout Covid. Now, it is clear that that was not through lack of her ability. So I have been glued to her Presidential campaign and her wise choice of a VP candidate who is not threatened by a strong woman. The success of her campaign is important across the globe.
It has been good to see that Harris has not got drawn into a Trump-created identity clash. As another female policitian said, she has gone high and her joyful demeanour will gain votes as Trump begins to look more and more like Trump the Grump.
But I hope Harris and those close to her are taking close heed of the calls to also defeat Trump on policies and their presentation. Abortion has been an effective distinguisher. There will be others: action on climate change, economy and help for those suffering from the obsession with growth, healthcare, and maybe even some action on work termination-at-will (Montana being the sole exception).
The best female leader the Labour Party never had was a clear example on solving problems with clear policies wherever she was Secretary of State in 1965-70. Barbara Castle drove and oversaw the Ministry of Overseas Development, developing the system
of loans to poorer countries. When she became Secretary of State for Transport, she addressed the problem of deaths on the road with measures we now take for granted: seat belts, speed limits, criminalisation of drink-driving, and its system of enforcement. Opposition to these measures focused on her being a woman. When she moved to Employment, she drove the Equal Pay Act 1970, before we even joined the EEC. Her paper In Place of Strife, proposing state-underpinned collective bargaining was opposed by unions (one union leader referred to knowing her in “dirty knickers”) but may yet find a place (see my https://uklabourlawblog.com/2024/07/23/bringing-wages-home-labours-proposal-for-a-fair-pay-agreement-in-the-social-care-sector-by-sandhya-drew/) . Castle’s policies brought about change.
It would be fantastic to have a US President who is a woman. But lest it be thought I have forgotten that the UK has its share of female politician non role models, here is this week’s comedy gold from Suffolk:
Londonlawcalling 