Harriet Harman - Fail

While Harriet was talking on her mobile phone, she crashed into another car and drove off after shouting - "I’m Harriet Harman, you know where you can get hold of me." Clearly not at the scene of an accident you're responsible for Ms Harman.

Harriet Charges In

This week is like a little taster session of what it would be like if Harriet Harman was prime minster, I would liken it to Boudica on her chariot.

A review of rape conviction rates was to be released on Monday, however Harman has sent it back to the drawing board. It's understood she wants a:

more radical overhaul of the law which could include targets for prosecutors and police to secure more convictions.

Targets though Labours answer to everything, are not the answer here, you just put pressure on the courts to find someone guilty, as reports already show it has a terrible effect on justice. Increasing the likelihood of wrongful or unsound conviction is just stupid beyond words.

A lot of rape victims don't go to the police straight away or sometimes never do, largely because most rapes are perpetrated by people they know, only a small percentage are by strangers. For juries it's more difficult to say "guilty" if it's not based on physical evidence. A lot of cases are a question of whether the victim did not consent and that is a very difficult thing to prove.

For Harman to step in like this however suggests that "radical overhaul" means something really radical. Switching so the accused has to be the one to prove that the victim consented, this would drastically increase conviction rates. Yet politicians getting involved in justice is a recipe for disaster, the effect of their involvement in law can clearly be seen in how terrorism is dealt with, like a Salem witch trial.

To change the premiss of the law i.e you are innocent until proven guilty, is a scary prospect, largely because the impact is so far reaching. As much as I want more justice for victims of rape, we can not be populist about law, it must be objective, factual and fair. Whatever this review comes up with though, there will always be a large amount of people that won't be able to prosecute, making sure there is the care available to help them is so important. As that may be the only way they can move on in their lives. Consequently more than anything, I hope Harriet's involvement doesn't push this review into an area of non practical support.

Harriet Harman - It's Raining Men

I really wish Harriet Harman wouldn't presume she speaks for all of female kind, while making sweeping generalisations. Giving women the opportunity to get into politics is one thing, it's another thing entirely to stack the cards so that regardless of ability women gain. How can anyone respect that? And why would women want that? Earning things in life is so much more rewarding, to know it was you who did it, you achieved it.

Yet there in lies the problem with parliament, how many people regardless of gender got the job on merit lately? Harriet Harman should be arguing for that, as it won't matter how many women hold those posts if they didn't deserve it, likewise for anyone. I don't adhere to the idea that a feminist is a women who lacks ambition. Harriet needs to roll up her sleeves and stop complaining, it's starting to sound like an excuse, you can't legislate for every equality in life.

Stilettos Against Gordon Brown

Caroline Flint's so called stiletto stabbing resignation was pointed enough, yet she did an interview saying, women in Brown's government were used as:

a smokescreen, a way of making it look like you've got a lot of women around the table without letting them influence anything.

Others in the Labour Party are saying the complete reverse, clearly Flint's angry yet she does have a point when coupled with her "inner circle" comment. Hence most women who are promoted having questionable ability, though oblivious loyalty.

What bothers me about these "Blair Babes" is they set the benchmark for women in politics, which has become more like a competition to make the front bench like some sort of GAP advert, rather than being capable and outstanding. That damages women, as how can people take them seriously or praise their contribution?

Will it be a stiletto that finishes him? Harriet Harman is clearly the one to watch, as Peter Mandelson in the reshuffle was made First Secretary of State, which is an alternative title to Deputy Prime Minister. What is Harman then? Brown clarified by saying she would still deputies him in the Commons, yet he fails to mention that Mandelson can only speak in the Lords. Not at all patronizing.

If Harman had any respect for women and herself she'd take off her stiletto too. It's not good enough to be promoted for just being a loyal Labour woman or sidelined because you're not. Otherwise you might as well just put lipstick on a man.

Mps' Expenses "vote" Reform

What a show parliament was today; squabbling, finger pointing, accusations, waving a bath plug, just a circus. All for the government to accept Sir George Young's amendment which refers everything to the Committee on Standards in Public Life, yet then go ahead pre-empting the whole inquiry by voting on some measures any way.

The proposals that were voted on were; cutting allowances for outer London MPs, getting MPs to declare full details of outside jobs, making them submit full receipts and changing the way staff are employed. The government won the vote on these proposals, yet it's unclear what will happen if they're not agreed by Sir Kellys' inquiry.

Which is a bit of a mess, Brown could have easily have gained cross party support by talking to the party leaders before making an announcement on YouTube. Or heaven forbid talking to Sir Kelly and agreeing proposals to put in place before July. Why must this be so theatrical, all for what? Brown to be able to claim he cleaned up politics.

Brown can hardly claim that victory today, he just avoided a battle and used Harriet Harman as a human shield. MPs knew they had to vote in favour of these individual proposals, they couldn't be seen doing otherwise. That doesn't equal reform for me, yet it does raise the question of just how bad the expense claims due to be released in July will be, given the frenzy today.