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The Sun
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
After the mess you've made of the country, why cry now Rachel Reeves? Blubbing in Commons does no favours for us women
TWO weeks ago I met Rachel Reeves at a party and she was warm, gentle and touchingly self-deprecating. She spoke about her kids with real motherly love, reminding me that behind the tone deaf political persona, she is a real human and above all, a decent human one. 4 4 The problem, though, is she has shown little to no warmth to the British people, her people. So yesterday's tears, so incongruous in the showboating House of Commons, looked like crocodile ones - or worse still, tears of self-pity. Across social media people are asking where, then, were her tears when she was trying to withdraw winter fuel payments from pensioners? Where were her tears for the hard-working British farmers whose livelihoods she threatens to destroy? And where were her tears for the hundreds of thousands of workers whose jobs are at risk thanks to insurmountable NI hikes? So many wheres, so few whys. In his treatise, Politics, Aristotle insisted women were inferior to men on the basis they were "more easily moved to tears, at the same time more jealous, more querulous, more apt to scold and to strike." The Greek philosopher's observations began a lazy trope that would go on to be a mainstay of sexist science for the next 2,375 years. Unfortunately, Rachel just confirmed every last one of those last, lingering suspicions. Whilst the gender pay gap shows no sign of abating, whilst women have to work doubly hard to prove their worth in the workplace, women in 2025 simply cannot afford to be emotional. Keir Starmer 'to BACK DOWN' on benefits cuts as he faces major revolt from MPs That wobbling top lip, those two, plopping tears - they have done no favours to the sisterhood. Of course, we don't know exactly why she cried - her spokesman said it was a "personal matter". In which case, no one would have blamed her, then, had she sat this PMQs out and dealt with whatever else might be going on behind the scenes. And on a human level, we all hope she is ok. This display of raw, unfiltered emotion is more empathy than we've seen from her in the past 12 months - a 12 months that appear to have aged the poor woman immeasurably. While she pledged to be an 'Iron Chancellor', this display is more Cryin' Chancellor Rachel 's unrelenting stint in number 11 has left her looking shell-shocked, and knackered. Again, her appearance is something people on X are commenting on in a way that they probably wouldn't, a man. Yep, it really is quite s*** being a woman. If she is struggling with something, a family matter perhaps, away from toxic Westminster, then watching her desperately trying to hold back the tears is heartbreaking. We have all been there, and never has she been more human, less autopilot politician. Few would be brave enough to swap places with her. Whatever your politics, the video doing the rounds, of her crying, is a tough watch But while she pledged to be an 'Iron Chancellor', this display is more Cryin' Chancellor. If I were her, I'd want to cry too. But I wouldn't. Because I would save it for the Commons' loos afterwards - anywhere but on the hallowed green benches. Unfortunately, in an unjust world, one that judges us women so harshly, her tears seem like a sign of political weakness. Such a showing instils no-one with confidence and, sure enough, the pound tumbled yesterday, bond markets similarly in turmoil. I'd be a monster to say I don't have sympathy for the poor woman. Of course I do. And, in a way, it's finally made her touchingly fallible. But, as a woman, I wish she could have just, well, kept a lid on it. Sure, Margaret Thatcher, a woman harder than drywall nails, shed a tear as she left No10 for the last time. And another former PM, Theresa May, did likewise upon announcing her resignation. But both were on the way out: Rachel remains in prime position as the most powerful woman in the UK. This display undermines all that. It's ok to show emotion at work Says Caroline Iggulden, Associate Editor, The Sun IT was pretty predictable from the minute chancellor Rachel Reeve's eyes moistened that having a cry in the House of Commons would prompt a national outcry. Markets tumbled, the pound plunged, the cost of borrowing shot up and Westminster watchers pronounced the Chancellor's goose well and truly cooked. 4 But I was left thinking, is it really such an awful thing to show genuine human emotion at work? Up until now, Reeves has very much been presented to the electorate as a hardened economist, sharp suits and lots of very deliberate shots of her looking serious behind boardroom tables. Now she will probably be forever more known as the Tiny Tears Chancellor. But ironically, for me, only at the moment of her almost certain professional demise did I actually warm to the woman. I have no doubt Reeves will be feeling utterly mortified tonight that she cracked in the commons. But let's face it, we have all experienced that moment where you can feel your lip quivering and feel yourself starting to go, despite fighting it with every fibre of your being not to. Of course I know it isn't a great look - the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the most senior woman in the land bursting into tears during PMQs. It isn't helpful for the sisterhood, or the stability of the country. But I can't lie, my heart went out to her and I don't believe I am alone. We have all been there, when you feel tired, stressed, sleep deprived and undermined by colleagues or your boss. And at the absolute worst moment you lose composure and just want the floor to swallow you up. As I watched the front bench scene unfold I couldn't help but feel moved and very sorry for Rachel Reeves. She had suffered the humiliation of being thrown under the bus by a boss determined to save his own skin live TV. Sir Keir Starmer is the PM — the buck stops with him and yesterday we watched him publicly lay all the blame at Reeves' door by refusing to back her Politicians are often accused of being robotic, insincere, unfeeling, and detached from the real world. But here writ large was an unvarnished moment of genuine despair and for me it was heartbreakingly human. Westminster is a notoriously tough and bruising world where a thick skin is a prerequisite for the job. But this can also lead to unfeeling policies made by people who never really have to cope with real world hardship or the day-to-day juggle of bills and logistics of family life. I will never forget the story of the single mother who posted a letter through Dominic Cummings door during lockdown pleading with the government to understand how punishing Covid -rules were on single parents. The rules around forming support bubbles were quickly introduced. Or I think of the parent of a special needs child despairing at the idea of rumoured plans by Labour' to scrap EHCP plans. Make no mistake, almost straight out of the gate, Rachel Reeves has been the author of her downfall in so many ways. From the winter fuel fiasco just weeks into the job to this latest humiliating capitulation on welfare. But Sir Keir Starmer is the PM, the buck stops with him and yesterday we watched him publicly lay all the blame at Reeve's door by refusing to back her yesterday. Even Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch expressed pity for the beleaguered Chancellor. Who knows what slanging matches, dirty tricks and recriminations had been flying around behind closed doors that had led to that point. Not to mention family or personal stress which could lie behind Rachel's breakdown. And the the market jitters triggered by the episode are also just as likely caused by the city's nervousness and lack of confidence in a Prime Minister and government which seems to be unravelling before our very eyes. It is all just a crying shame.
Irish Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘Being a mother can hold you back at work - my peers can stay later, go on work trips'
When it comes to working and having children, it's more difficult for women to climb to the top of their profession. From the gender pay and promotions gap , the childcare and domestic juggle and the women's health gap , many structural and societal barriers are put in the way. We all know some parents who've both made it professionally and seem to have it all figured out. But have they really or are they stressed out of their minds? Numerous research studies and books show that when women have children , they suffer a motherhood penalty at work: fewer promotions and hiring opportunities, lower salaries and a drop in their career trajectory compared to male counterparts and those without children. When men marry however, they start earning more and that's true at every age from 20 to 64, according to US data . Whether women have children or not, making it to the corner office is a huge challenge. In 2025 in Ireland, the two least likely roles for women to hold in senior management are CEO (6.2 per cent) and chairperson (2.5 per cent), according to Grant Thornton's annual Women in Business Report. There's hope though. Some roles such as chief human resources officer (48.8 per cent) and chief financial officer (43.8 per cent) are among those most commonly held by women in senior management in Ireland. READ MORE Sadly, more than one in seven (16.3 per cent) businesses had no women in senior management roles. [ Will part-time work or staying at home with children leave you poorer in old age? Here's what to do now Opens in new window ] This week I spoke to women in the tech and legal sectors, some of the best paid professions in the State, to see how they've tried to make motherhood and professional success more compatible. Women who work and have children are struggling Last week's National Women's Health Survey in the Irish Examiner found that a third of women say they cannot afford to have children or won't until they reach certain financial or career goals. Kids are expensive and it is understandable that women want to increase their financial stability, and their ability to take maternity leave or reduced hours, before making that choice one way or the other. And there's no doubt they are seeing that women who work and have kids are struggling. The many women I spoke to, who tried to continue working at a high level professionally after having two or more children, said career and family success requires strong organisational skills, a supportive partner, full-time flexible childcare and help from family, neighbours and friends along the way. Anecdotally, couples at the top of their professions who 'have it all' – at least from the outside – tend to have full-time minders or nannies who look after their young children and household tasks, including meal preparation. Making this happen takes some serious cash and is out of reach for most parents, and likely impossible for single parents. At an average of €19 an hour in suburban Dublin and 10-hour days, that equates to an average salary of almost €50k before tax. When the kids are older, many families reduce the minder's hours to after school and evenings. Jennie* and her husband work in tech and they have a minder who looks after their primary school age children from lunch to 6.30pm. 'When the kids were younger, we'd drop them to creche at 7.30am and pick up at 6pm. They were the last kids in the creche and it almost broke me. We thought one person probably needed to give up their job or we needed to move out of Dublin,' she says. Covid put the brakes on that decision by allowing them to work from home, easing the pressure a bit. If they'd left Dublin and moved closer to family support, it would have involved a long commute for one while the other would be in the car driving the kids everywhere instead of walking, or doing a short drive, to school. Jennie is the only woman on her senior management team with a family or in a relationship. Everyone else either has a full-time stay at home wife or they are single. 'It's important to work but you need to do it so it doesn't cost you everything. It can hold you back though; my peers can stay later, go on work trips.' Living by a 'spaghetti junction of spreadsheets' Some dual income parents have a web of support involving several people – a childminder every day and a cleaner/cook once or twice a week – with both parents working from home two days a week and extended family or close neighbours filling in the gaps. Anne*, who worked in large legal firms from 1996 to 2016, and her husband decided to have several children and she left the profession to work for herself in a related field with more flexibility. Managing the children and the household takes a 'spaghetti junction of spreadsheets' and messaging apps she said. And the organisational role still falls largely on women. Things have changed in the last 10 years though. 'Conversations around the legal boardroom table have changed. Men are saying no to things now because they're dads (age 35 to 45) and want to be there to support their wife and kids. I'm seeing more dads [in the legal profession] at kids' matches and doing school runs. They're in as much of a sweat now as their wives and partners are.' The long hours work culture means parents are always on, even when they're at home, says Jane* who also left the legal profession for a more flexible job. Her husband recently reached the top of his game in law but it's a real juggle. [ A 9-5 work schedule operates on the assumption someone else is looking after your house and kids all day Opens in new window ] 'You need to get home at 6pm or 7pm for the minder so you have a couple of hours with the kids. Once they're in bed, you log back on at 9pm or 10pm and work for a few more hours. Sometimes you're working weekends. 'Weekends tend to be full of activities with the kids; going to matches and flying around to different activities. There's not enough time with the kids or one another. It's difficult to find time for yourself to (exercise) and to be together as a couple. People are wrecked, running around all the time.' Some employers have really stepped up to help parents by providing working from home options and more flexible hours and the Government's hot dinners and childcare supports are good initiatives, says Anne. She's scathing however when it comes to schools. 'Schools need to be more mindful of the people behind the children, especially when they're organising multiple midday events or ringing because a child forgot something. Some people can't leave work – or they have to take a half day off for each event – and if they're not there, the child will feel they're the only one without a parent attending. The guilt is terrible.' Ireland's professions are still structured around the one earner, one stay at home parent model, despite the higher educational levels of both men and women, and the financial necessity for most families of two incomes. Something has got to give. *Names have been changed Margaret E Ward is chief executive of Clear Eye, a leadership consultancy. margaret@
The Guardian
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Australia news live: morning commuters told to steer clear of Sydney trains as delays continue; record flood hits Taree
Update: Date: 2025-05-20T20:30:48.000Z Title: Welcome Content: Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then my colleague Rafqa Touma will take over. Sydney Trains have warned commuters to expect delays this morning and try different travel options after yesterday's overhead line collapse at Strathfield paralysed large parts of the system and caused extensive delays. Train services on most lines will be affected this morning, Sydney Trains said. We'll have updates soon. The gender pay gap at more than 100 commonwealth public sector employers including the ABC has been laid bare for the first time. Data from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency shows the national broadcaster pays men nearly 10% more than women, but the private sector gap (21.1%) was more than triple the average public sector gap (6.4%). Sussan Ley and David Littleproud have both refused to take the blame for the Coalition breaking up. On ABC 730 last night, Ley responded 'absolutely not' when asked if she had 'blown up' the Coalition, while Littleproud said he had been left with no choice but to pull the Nationals out. More coming up. And the NSW floods have continued to hit regional towns, with Taree a particular focus, where residents have reportedly had to wait on their roofs for rescue. More on this soon too.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Oral Questions for Thursday 15 May 2025
Questions to Ministers Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement about the pay equity changes that "the process that we have set up is fair. It's robust"; if so, how is cancelling 33 pay equity claims under urgency fair? CAMERON BREWER to the Associate Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen about tax and spending in New Zealand? RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH to the Minister of Health: Does he support GP services being free, publicly owned, and adequately resourced to reach underserved communities? Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS to the Minister for Women: Has she sought advice on the impact on closing the gender pay gap from moving the pay equity claim threshold from a 60 percent to a 70 percent female-dominated workforce; if not, why not? SUZE REDMAYNE to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has she made about supporting the Government's target of raising student achievement? Hon JAN TINETTI to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Is it accurate that 180,000 workers are affected by the cancelling of 33 pay equity claims? TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: Does he believe bottom trawling is damaging; if so, should it be banned? TOM RUTHERFORD to the Minister of Justice: How is the Government progressing with its plan to restore law and order? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Was cancelling 33 current pay equity claims consistent with her commitment to reduce persistent disadvantage as outlined in her employment action plan; if not, why not? NANCY LU to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What recent announcements has the Government made about increasing competition in banking? Hon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN to the Minister for Disability Issues: Does she stand by her statement, "That is why we are prioritising disabled people, their families and carers"; if so, why? Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Associate Minister of Agriculture: What recent announcements has he made about strengthening regulation to support the welfare of dogs? To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
PM responds to critics of pay equity bill law changes
The Prime Minister has hit back at critics of the coalition's pay equity shake-up - saying some of the reaction has been out-of-line and unacceptable. A law change - pushed through under urgency last week - has raised the threshold for workers to prove they've been poorly paid due to their gender. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
