Night of the Petticoats

I am fortunate enough to live in a beautiful part of the world, South Dorset. While there are challenges to living in a predominately rural area, the chief one for me personally being the high rents and house prices and low wages, I count myself lucky to be a Dorset resident and I would not generally be tempted to go elsewhere.


I am, however, very ashamed that my fellow South Dorset residents gave a majority vote to Richard Drax, the Conservative MP for my patch. In my opinion, he is one of the very last people I could ever imagine wanting to represent me in Parliament.


Who voted for this man? Did they really know what they were voting for?


Let’s start with the latest news. He has taken to the press to bemoan the latest promotion of female MPs as “tokenism” and complained that positions in Parliament should be given on merit rather than on gender. He called the appointment of three new female ministers the “Night of the Petticoats” and patronisingly writes:


"First, I have no problem with women getting top jobs.

But, they, like their male counterparts, must get there on merit, and not just because they are women and a quota needs to be filled by 2015.

Experience counts, too.

The learning curve in the Commons is steep and my intake is still learning the ropes.

An MP’s life is busy enough, but a Minister’s even more so.

Perhaps it would be wiser to tackle the shallow end first, before venturing out of your depth."


Let’s have a look at the women who now serve in the Cabinet.


Theresa May, Home Secretary. Been in politics since 1986 and an MP since 1997. Has held several ministerial roles.


Nicky Morgan, Education Secretary. Studied Law at Oxford University and worked as a solicitor before being elected as MP in 2010.


Liz Truss, Environment Secretary. Studied philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford. A qualified management accountant who became MP for Norfolk in 2010.


Justine Greening, International Development Secretary. Studied economics at Southampton University and an MBA from London Business School. Became MP for Putney in 2005 and was promoted to the Cabinet in October 2011.


Theresa Villiers, Northern Ireland Secretary. Became MP in 2005, prior to that was an MEP for six years. Has held the role of shadow chief secretary and shadow transport minister.


Whatever you think of their politics, these are highly qualified women who have just as much right to be in Parliament as anyone else in government.


Now, let’s have a look at Richard Drax’s own credentials. No qualifications in business, economics, law or politics. A Diploma in Rural Land Management from Cirencester Royal Agricultural College, and a Diploma in Journalism. Nine years in the Army, seventeen years working in the highly esteemed and honourable field of journalism. Became an MP in 2010.


One cannot help but taste the tang of sour grapes.


Anyway, while we are talking about getting there on merit, I cannot help but wonder on what merit Mr Richard Grosvenor Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax was selected to run as an MP in the first place. Could it have been for his clear educational achievements and strong economic, legal or political background? Or could it, perhaps, have been some other reason?


Interestingly enough, Mr Drax makes no mention of male MPs who were also promoted to ministerial roles, who have served just the same amount of time in Parliament. He only questions the suitability of the women, and in language which is clearly designed to be as patronising as possible. This is, of course, not the first time Mr Drax has let his misogyny slip out. Page Three of the Sun is, in his words, “A national institution, providing the girls with a job”. I wonder if he would be happy with his daughters stripping for men to ogle – of course, they will never need to.


Finally, let’s see what else Mr Drax is doing in Parliament to represent his voters:

• Voted strongly for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms
• Voted very strongly against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices
• Voted very strongly against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability
• Voted strongly for making local councils responsible for helping those in financial need afford their council tax and reducing the amount spent on such support
• Voted very strongly for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits
• Voted moderately against spending public money to create guaranteed jobs for young people who have spent a long time unemployed

And wait for it…

• Voted strongly against increasing the tax rate applied to income over £150,000 
• Voted moderately against a banker’s bonus tax 
• Voted very strongly against an annual tax on the value of expensive homes (popularly known as a mansion tax) 

Hmm.

So, about overcoming social disadvantage and getting people into better paid employment, Richard?

• Voted very strongly for raising England’s undergraduate tuition fee cap to £9,000 per year 
• Voted very strongly for ending financial support for some 16-19 year olds in training and further education 
• Voted very strongly for university tuition fees 

I wonder what Mr Grosvenor Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax thinks about those from privileged backgrounds?

• Voted very strongly against a wholly elected House of Lords 
• Voted very strongly against removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords.

Well, that's a shocker.


And these votes don’t even need any further comment: 

• Voted very strongly against equal gay rights. 
• Voted very strongly against allowing marriage between two people of same sex 

I think it is absolutely clear that Mr Drax is voting based on his own values and opinions, and for the very things that will benefit him the most and not citizens of the UK. It is also clear that his personal values are outdated, unpleasant and bigoted, and have no place in modern UK society.  

 Be proud, South Dorset.  You voted in this man.