Andy Burnham is set to overhaul the entrenched culture of factional briefings at Downing Street, according to Lucy Powell.
The Deputy Leader of the Labour Party revealed her firsthand encounters with negative briefings in Number 10, fostering an environment of fear and reluctance to voice opinions.
In an interview with the Guardian, Powell highlighted the prevalence of briefings targeting female Cabinet members as indicative of a “boys club” mentality within the government’s upper echelons.
She emphasized the detrimental impact of this culture on open communication and decision-making processes, stressing the need for a shift towards a more inclusive and transparent environment.
Andy Burnham recently pledged to dismiss any team members found engaging in undermining or disparaging behavior towards women. Addressing the women’s parliamentary Labour party, Burnham asserted a zero-tolerance policy towards negative briefings, vowing swift action against offenders.
Powell expressed optimism that under Burnham’s leadership, the culture at No 10 would evolve, calling for collective efforts to promote diversity of perspectives and ensure robust female representation within the party’s top ranks.
Pressure mounts on Burnham to prioritize gender equality in his cabinet appointments, with Labour’s female MPs urging him to commit to a balanced gender ratio among ministers and staff.
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