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Throughout an enjoyable – at least for the political geeks among us – election campaign, one thing was very noticeable by its absence. Women. Apart, that is, from the candidates for First Lady in an increasingly-presidential approach to the campaign. The thought did strike me that the party which took the innovative step of pushing somebody to the front for a few days, not wearing a navy blue suit and tie, might just have struck on a novel way of connecting with more voters. Alas, it was not to be. Martin Horton is a director at SOLACE Enterprises The same happened during negotiations to find a coalition. Teams of identikit men in a flurry of important – and self-important – activity. I half expected to see the negotiating team WAGS bringing up the rear for that all-important think piece in the tabloids. So, what is it with these women in politics? Do they lack ambition, energy, intellect, grit, leadership ability? Patently not. So, if it isn't some innate flaw in the female political population, it must be something to do with those who occupy the top table – men. The last few days have seen endless headlines on a radical new political landscape. A seismic shift. A brave new world. And, in many ways, it is. We have seen an object lesson in how to approach partnership building. Long may it continue. Then look at the new cabinet. Only four women out of 23 seats. Only one non-white face. Although one of the women does get three jobs as home secretary, minister for women and minister for equalities – a tribute to multi-tasking, if I ever saw one. So, for all the talk of seismic shift, it looks a lot like same old, same old. No, even worse. In terms of age, background, ethnicity, gender and education, this looks like the least diverse cabinet for many years. It remains to be seen how much impact this imbalance at the heart of government has. This Con-Lib coalition seems to have recognised that a respect for political diversity is necessary for success. Hopefully, it will ensure that a respect for diversity in all its facets is also acted on.

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WHITEHALL

Soap Box

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